Boycott of The Ingraham Angle

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student and shooting survivor David Hogg initiated the boycott in response to criticism of his activism.

The boycott of The Ingraham Angle was a boycott of companies that advertise their products during the controversial Fox News television show The Ingraham Angle. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student David Hogg initiated this boycott after the show's host, Laura Ingraham, ridiculed him amidst possible conspiracy theories related to the shooting at his school in 2018, in which seventeen students died and where Hogg was a witness and survivor.[1] Ingraham's particular criticism of Hogg was that some universities declined to offer him admission after his college application.[1]

Hogg accused Ingraham of cyberbullying and he suggested that his followers tell her show's sponsors to cancel their advertising purchases.[1] In response, several advertisers left the show after which Ingraham apologized.[1][2] Hogg dismissed the apology as insincere, and he and his supporters continued the pressure campaign on her show's advertisers.[3]

More than 20 sponsors have stopped advertising on the show. Public polling showed that public perception of Fox News declined more than that of any advertiser.[4] Advertising rates for the show declined slightly, and the amount of advertising during the show was reduced by as much as half.[5][6]

The boycott resulted in mixed reactions. Supporters of Ingraham's position included her employer Fox News,[7] musician Ted Nugent,[8] and Russian web brigades.[9][10] Bill Maher defended Ingraham on grounds of free speech, saying that the boycott was wrong.[11] Back on the air after a week on a pre-planned vacation, Ingraham described the boycott as "Stalinist" and blamed leftists for working against free speech.[12] Hogg intensified the boycott in following months, further raising pressure on the show.[13][14] In 2020 S&P Global attributed a decline in Fox News advertising revenue to the boycott.[15]

  1. ^ a b c d Victor, Daniel (29 March 2018). "Advertisers Drop Laura Ingraham After She Taunts Parkland Survivor David Hogg". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Savransky, Rebecca (29 March 2018). "Ingraham apologizes amid backlash over Parkland student criticism". The Hill.
  3. ^ Kludt, Tom (30 March 2018). "Laura Ingraham's apology to David Hogg has not stemmed the advertiser exodus". CNNMoney.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Entralgo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Thomsen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Berr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Battaglio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Alexander, Bryan (April 3, 2018). "Ted Nugent continues to bash Parkland survivor David Hogg, praises Fox's Laura Ingraham". USA Today. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Erickson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference twsTheHill0066 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Media Matters Staff, April 9, 2018, Media Matters, After 20+ advertisers remove ads following her attacks on a Parkland student, Laura Ingraham calls boycott efforts "Stalinist": Ingraham: "Expressing views that just five or ten years ago were considered mainstream can now get you fired," "you can get boycotted," and "their efforts are Stalinist", Retrieved April 10, 2018, "...left-wing activists use these terms as bludgeons to intimidate those who disagree with them from entering the dialogue ... the left doesn't invite more voices to enter the public discussion. Instead, they drive out any dissenting voice and police the dogma of their own creation...."
  13. ^ Bach, Natasha (22 June 2018). "Why Fox News's Laura Ingraham Is Facing an Advertiser Boycott—Again". Fortune.
  14. ^ Schwartz, Jason (16 October 2018). "Big advertisers still shunning Ingraham's Fox News show months after boycotts". Politico.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Baine April 2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).