An ad for online language-learning service Babbel ran during Tucker Carlson's show - and their reaction was immediate. "If you saw our ad on Tucker Carlson’s show, you’re right to be upset," the company tweeted from their official account. "We are too."
Tucker Carlson is the conservative host of Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight, a show that prides itself on calling out "political correctness" and voicing unpopular - and often unsavory - opinions.
Babbel called the show "repugnant."
"While we did place our ad with Fox, we did not know it would air on a show so repugnant and at odds with our mission and values. We are blacklisting the show going forward. We are deeply sorry."
If you saw our ad on Tucker Carlson’s show, you’re right to be upset. We are too. While we did place our ad with Fo… https://t.co/NsKbKxSgRd— Babbel USA (@Babbel USA) 1556646021.0
Conservatives on Twitter were not delighted.
@BabbelUSA It’s clear you also think the millions of hard-working Americans who watch Tucker’s show are repugnant a… https://t.co/KCBDEAyWRG— Will Chamberlain (@Will Chamberlain) 1556660015.0
@BabbelUSA Thanks for letting me know to avoid your company at all costs. I don’t do business with cowards.— 🎃The🐰FOO👻 (@🎃The🐰FOO👻) 1556663070.0
@BabbelUSA I believe in FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Who ever is giving you advice must be COMMUNIST. I have to right to… https://t.co/LTi4P4FIJ0— TIMENOUT (@TIMENOUT) 1556735166.0
Carlson's supporters took a page from Babbel and put their money where their mouth is.
@BabbelUSA And I am blacklisting you. Good day!— NP🇺🇸 (@NP🇺🇸) 1556723063.0
@BabbelUSA I will take Mr. Carlson over your firm any day. Thanks for letting me know not to ever patronize your company.— CronyCap Buzzkiller, now on Liz's dangerous list (@CronyCap Buzzkiller, now on Liz's dangerous list) 1556729677.0
@BabbelUSA Blacklisting babbel now. Good job, goofs— I want my country back 🇺🇸🇺🇲❤ (@I want my country back 🇺🇸🇺🇲❤) 1556727219.0
@BabbelUSA AND EVERY PROUD REPUBLICAN SHOULD BOYCOTT YOUR PRODUCTS!— shane (@shane) 1556734595.0
Not everyone was on Carlson's side. Babbel's supporters chimed in with opinions about the people boycotting the online learning program.
@BabbelUSA MAGA is now going to boycott Babbel by not completely learning English.— Tony Posnanski (@Tony Posnanski) 1556663470.0
The only reason a Tucker Carlson viewer would use Babbel is to determine if the ladies at the nail salon are talkin… https://t.co/QkQ9El4Y7m— justin 🏀🥃🍺🍕🌮 (@justin 🏀🥃🍺🍕🌮) 1556682855.0
@willchamberlain @BabbelUSA Now, in Babbel's defense, people who watch Tucker Carlson's show legitimately ARE repugnant, so— Social Justice Rogue 🥄 (@Social Justice Rogue 🥄) 1556665971.0
Babbel is the latest of many companies to pull advertising from Carlson's show. Indeed.com, IHOP, NerdWallet, and Pacific Life insurance all boycotted Carlson's show after he said that immigrants make America "poorer and dirtier and more divided."
And Carlson lost more supporters when media watchdog Media Matters released audio of Carlson arguing that women are "extremely primitive" beings who "just need to be quiet and kind of do what you’re told" during a call to a shock jock radio show.
With Babbel dropping Tucker Carlson, that brings the tally to 41 former advertisers who have dropped the show and r… https://t.co/WT14SLk0gD— jordan (@jordan) 1556732507.0
@BabbelUSA There was no reason for me or my family to boycott your product for the rest of our lives, but you just… https://t.co/oc7drH8sfQ— Paul Sacca (@Paul Sacca) 1556681010.0
In a statement released in the wake of Babbel's tweet, Fox News called the boycott censorship.
"We will not allow voices like Tucker Carlson’s to be censored by agenda-driven intimidation efforts from the intolerant partisan activists Media Matters, Sleeping Giants and Moveon.org whose only goal is to silence conservative thought they don't agree with."
@krassenstein @BabbelUSA Umm have they never watched Fox News? It’s all repugnant, not just Tucker.— Right matters, truth matters. (@Right matters, truth matters.) 1556716660.0
The news station claimed that "our audience is not only deeply loyal to the brand, but to our top tier partners as well, of which Babbel is not one."
@BabbelUSA PsychoBabble more like!!— Apple A. Day ❤🤍💙 (@Apple A. Day ❤🤍💙) 1556731004.0
@BabbelUSA I didn't see your ad and never miss his show. But, at least I've finally heard of you now, so I can avo… https://t.co/hnIxUYbiHO— WhichWitch (@WhichWitch) 1556728267.0
Stay mad then.