Hip-hop impresario and yogaphile Russell Simmons is publicly shaming Lowe’s with some help from his amassed fortune after the home-improvement megastore pulled its ads from the “All-American Muslim” reality show.

Simmons first went after Lowe’s in Entertainment Weekly on Saturday, warning the chain, “I don’t want to take my time and start a boycott — don’t make me do that.” Lowe’s made a feeble attempt at an apology on Monday, but that apparently wasn’t enough for the Def Jam magnate, who decided that same day to put his money to work by buying the advertising spots himself. –KA

NYDailyNews.com:

“Just purchased remaining spots for #allamericanmuslim for next week The show is now sold out!” he tweeted Monday. “keep your money @lowes and we will keep ours.”

Simmons said he planned to use the purchased air-time to advertise his prepaid Visa RushCard.

Lowe’s issued a statement earlier this week announcing their withdrawal, saying that the “program raised concerns, complaints or issues from multiple sides of the viewer spectrum” after the Florida Family Association lambasted the show as propaganda for the “threat of jihad.”

Read more

 Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface.  We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig
In this Article:
#advertising#islam#islamophobia