Hulu refused to run Democrat ads —now Dem leadership is furious.
According to a report from The Washington Post, Disney-backed streaming service Hulu refused to run Democrat campaign ads that addressed controversial issues, such as abortion, gun control, and Jan. 6.
“The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Governors Association tried to purchase joint ads on abortion and guns with Hulu on July 15, along with identical placements on a Disney-affiliated ABC affiliate in Philadelphia and the company’s cable sports channel ESPN. The Hulu ads never ran, while the others did,” WaPo reports.
“Hulu’s censorship of the truth is outrageous, offensive, and another step down a dangerous path for our country,” the executive directors of the three committees, Christie Roberts, Tim Persico and Noam Lee, said in a statement. “Voters have the right to know the facts about MAGA Republicans’ agenda on issues like abortion — and Hulu is doing a huge disservice to the American people by blocking voters from learning the truth about the GOP record or denying these issues from even being discussed.”
Suraj Patel, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New York City, posted a letter of protest to Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Hulu President Joe Earley.
“To not discuss these topics in my campaign ad is to not address the most important issues facing the United States,” Patel wrote. “Your ban on mobilization messaging has a perverse effect on Democracy.”
Patel actually made some headway, receiving a response from Hulu, agreeing to run his original ad.
“I want to thank Hulu for allowing Americans to know about the most pressing issues of our day,” Patel said in a statement after the approval. “Sometimes a simple conversation can make change.”
Hulu does not publicly disclose its ad guidelines but says every ad is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
“@Hulu is REJECTING our ads calling out GOP attacks on abortion access and gun safety,” the DSCC tweeted. “Their shady policies amount to outrageous political censorship. Americans deserve to know the truth about these issues, and Hulu has no right to block it.”
BREAKING: @Hulu is REJECTING our ads calling out GOP attacks on abortion access and gun safety. Their shady policies amount to outrageous political censorship.
Americans deserve to know the truth about these issues, and Hulu has no right to block it. https://t.co/xEfpgASoBU
— Senate Democrats (@dscc) July 25, 2022
“@Hulu’s censorship of the truth is outrageous and offensive,” the DCCC tweeted Monday, linking to the Washington Post article. “Voters have the right to know the facts about MAGA Republicans’ extreme agenda on abortion – Hulu is doing a huge disservice to the American people.”
.@Hulu’s censorship of the truth is outrageous and offensive. Voters have the right to know the facts about MAGA Republicans’ extreme agenda on abortion – Hulu is doing a huge disservice to the American people.https://t.co/Bh2dOnoynm
— DCCC (@dccc) July 25, 2022
Continue reading over at The Hill:
Hulu won’t run Democrats’ ads on abortion, guns https://t.co/RTWHtselhb pic.twitter.com/Sg1J67XKT0
— The Hill (@thehill) July 26, 2022