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Retail Ads Featuring Trump Impersonator Rejected by News Media

Retail Ads Featuring Trump Impersonator Rejected by News Media

Retailers in Tennessee DT McCall & Sons The Tennessee Star said Wednesday that Cumulus Media and Scripps Media, Inc. both refused to air advertising inspired by them former President Donald Trump on Cumulus’ Nashville radio station, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, and Scripps’ Nashville television station, NewsChannel 5.

The offensive ads Special feature a Trump impersonator wearing a suit and a “Make America Great Again” hat doing an impersonation of the former president while extolling the virtues of DT McCall & Sons and angering unnamed competitors in “the lumberyards.”

“These are sick people in the lumberyards,” the Trump impersonator said in one of four ads reviewed by the Star. “They charge you for cables, hoses and vents,” he continued, “they call them hidden fees, it’s the kind of surprise you don’t want to see.” It’s like a October surprisebut it’s worse.”

In another instance, the impersonator explained, “I was about to go shopping at the lumberyards” until “at the last second I turned my head and saw a big, beautiful ad for DT McCall’s.”

AJ McCall, the owner of Tennessee Appliance Company, told the Star On Monday, Cumulus announced that Cumulus declined to run the commercials on its Nashville radio station, even after McCall changed the commercials to include a disclaimer making it clear that Trump did not personally give his voice to his company for the commercials borrowed.

“I found a Trump impersonator who actually sounds exactly like Trump. He did some ads for us. Cumulus wouldn’t run them,” McCall said. “We put a disclaimer at the end; Cumulus still won’t run them.”

The alleged refusal to run ads with a nod to Trump’s catchphrases and catchphrases could prove to be the latest hurdle for the radio station, which has struggled at times conservative hosts and audience.

In 2023, Bob Boccia, who previously co-hosted the morning show WKIM News/Talk 98.9 on Memphis station Cumulus, will sued Cumulus until the broadcaster mandated that all employees receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Cumulus was the one first national Broadcasting company announces a COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

National radio host Dan Bongino previously announced his intention to leave the company due to the vaccination requirement stated later that he would stay after Cumulus dropped the mandate in 2023.

According to a company report from 2023 published According to Cumulus, the broadcast company is committed to “promoting and cultivating an environment in which diversity, equality and inclusion create a sense of belonging for all,” underscoring the broadcaster’s commitment to the controversial Diversity, equity and inclusion Ideology.

The report further states that Cumulus established a DEI steering committee in 2020, joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion coalition in 2021, and in 2022 “hired a DEI consulting firm to support our DEI efforts to continue to expand.”

McCall told the star On Wednesday, Scripps raised legal concerns about running the ad on NewsChannel 5.

“Channel 5 says their lawyers have rejected the commercial, but my understanding of trademark law is that it was obviously intended to be a parody of Trump because the impersonator is seen directly on the screen,” McCall said. “You can tell it’s not Trump.”

Scripps also offers a website He praises his commitment to DEI and explains that his commitment to “a diverse and inclusive culture” begins with “looking inward to build and celebrate a diverse and inclusive workplace,” reflected in “recruiting and hiring practices “ of the station reflects.

NewsChannel 5 confronted Accusations of partialityand in April his reporter Phil Williams admitted he was aware of the claim. State Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, covered up reports of a 2020 sexual assault by a homeless man against two activists who took part in a 62-day protest that Jones led in Nashville’s Legislative Plaza.

Williams claimed he didn’t pursue the story after questioning Jones and the the lawmaker said to Williams He was in a romantic relationship with the person behind the claim.

Originally published by The Tennessee Star