Russell Simmons slammed hardware giant Lowe's yesterday for pulling its ads from TLC's Muslim reality show All-American Muslim after a Florida family organization complained.
The hip-hop mogul and activist, who is chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, which promotes racial and interfaith harmony — especially among Jews and Muslims — said that Lowe's made a "stupid" move and this was the kind of hate that continues to separate Americans.
"This can't happen in America; [Lowe's] needs to fix this immediately," Simmons told Entertainment Weekly, calling the move Islamophobic. "They can't get away with that; it's ridiculous. There are American principles at stake here. I can't imagine the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, the National Urban League or any organization that fights for their own rights will allow this to happen to any other group, because they know they're next."
A Lowe's spokesperson responded to the concerns about the company pulling its ads from the show. "The program raised concerns, complaints or issues from multiple sides of the viewer spectrum, which we found after doing research of news articles and blogs covering the show.
"We based our decision to pull the advertising on this research and after hearing the concerns we received through emails, calls, through social media and in news reports. It is certainly never Lowe's intent to alienate anyone. Lowe's values diversity of thought."
The show, which airs every Sunday at 10 p.m. on TLC, aims to show Americans a positive portrayal of Muslim families.
Read more at Entertainment Weekly.