Retail ad featuring Trump lookalike rejected by media

Retailer in Tennessee D.T. McCall and sons Cumulus Media and Scripps Media, Inc. reported to The Tennessee Star on Wednesday. refused to air advertising inspired by former President Donald Trump on Nashville’s Cumulus radio station, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, and Nashville’s Scripps television station, NewsChannel 5.

Offensive advertising peculiarity a Trump impersonator dressed in a suit and “Make America Great Again” hat who does an impression of the former president while extolling the virtues of DT McCall & Sons and criticizing nameless “lumber yard” competitors.

“These are sick people in lumberyards,” a Trump lookalike said in one of four ads reviewed by the Star. “They charge for cords, hoses and transportation,” he continued, “They call it hidden fees, it’s the type of surprise you don’t want to see. How is that October surprisebut this is worse.”

In another, the impersonator explained, “I was very close to buying lumber at the yards” until “I turned my head at the last second and saw a big, beautiful ad for DT McCall’s.”

AJ McCall, owner of a Tennessee appliance company, told the Star On Monday, Cumulus refused to run the ad on its Nashville radio station even after McCall changed the ad to include a disclaimer clarifying that Trump did not personally lend his voice to his company for the ad.

“I found a Trump lookalike who looks a lot like Trump. He did several advertisements for us. Cumulus wouldn’t manage them,” McCall said. “We put a disclaimer at the end; Cumulus won’t control them anyway.

The reported refusal to run ads reflecting Trump’s catchphrases and cadence could be the final hurdle for a radio network that has sometimes struggled with conservative presenters and audience.

In 2023, Bob Boccia, who previously co-hosted the morning show at Cumulus station in Memphis, WKIM News/Talk 98.9, sued Cumulus until the broadcaster required all employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. There were cumulus clouds first national the broadcaster will announce COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.

National radio host Dan Bongino previously announced his intention to leave the company due to the vaccine mandate, but later stated that he will remain after Cumulus relinquishes the mandate in 2023.

According to the company’s 2023 report published According to Cumulus, the broadcaster is “committed to promoting and nurturing an environment where diversity, equity and inclusion combine to create a sense of belonging for all,” highlighting the broadcaster’s commitment controversial diversity, equity and inclusion ideology.

The report also states that Cumulus created a DEI Steering Committee in 2020, joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion coalition in 2021, and “has engaged a DEI consulting firm to further expand our DEI efforts” in 2022.

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

“Channel 5 says their lawyers rejected the ad, but my understanding of trademark law is that it obviously has to be a Trump parody because the doppelgänger is right there on the screen,” McCall said. “You can tell it’s not Trump.”

Scripps similarly suggests web page extolling her commitment to DEI, where she explains her commitment to a “diverse and inclusive culture” begins “by looking inward to create and celebrate a diverse and inclusive workplace,” which is reflected in the broadcaster’s “recruitment and hiring practices.”

NewsChannel 5 collided accusations of party affiliationand in April its reporter Phil Williams admitted that he was aware of the lawsuit. State Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, suppressed reports of sexual assault committed in 2020 by a homeless man against two activists involved in a 62-day protest led by Jones. at Nashville’s Legislative Plaza.

Williams said he did not pursue the story after questioning Jones and the others. The lawmaker told Williams. he was romantically involved with the man behind the statement.

Originally published by The Tennessee Star.