Advertisers drop Savage (8005)

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced Wednesday that all six national sponsors who ran advertisements during the debut of MSNBC's The Savage Nation have publicly withdrawn from the program, sending a clear message to NBC News that they refuse to support Michael Savage's attacks on women, people of color, immigrants, and gay men and lesbians. Since Savage's March 8 debut on MSNBC, GLAAD officials say they have reached out to each national advertiser, alerted them that their ads appeared on Savage's show, and made them aware--if they weren't already--of Savage's opinions. Procter & Gamble, Dell Computer Corporation, Casual Male, IdeaVillage, Cole Media Group, and the Sharper Image all have instructed MSNBC that their ads are not to appear on future Savage Nation airings. Kraft Foods and General Mills also have stated that they will not support Savage's television show.

"These companies get it," said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD's executive director. "They get that Michael Savage's racism, sexism, and homophobia do not reflect the attitudes and beliefs of fair-minded corporations and consumers. We applaud these companies' swift, decisive response and their stand against the divisive, intolerant diatribes of Michael Savage."