Rob Schneider: State Farm Ad Axed by Insurance Company Over Comedian's Anti-Vaccine Stance
Comedian Rob Schneider has been rebuffed by State Farm after the company announced it will remove a commercial featuring the comedian. Internet backlash forced the company to make this decision because of Schneider’s anti-vaccination stance.
In the ad, Schneider resurrects his Richmeister character from Saturday Night Live, according to the Los Angeles Times. The insurance company decided to remove their commercial because of Schneider’s opposition to childhood vaccinations, which incensed the Internet.
On Wednesday State Farm announced they would begin the process of pulling the ad from television. People online wondered how a company that provided health insurance could employ a celebrity opposed to vaccinations.
According to The Wrap, State Farm critics produced a video that was shared on the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages, questioning the insurance company’s decision.
“State Farm provides health insurance, and nothing ensures public health more than getting vaccinated,” the video says. “It is time to end the anti-vaccination movement; with your help, we can elicit change.”
Speaking to PR Week, State Farm’s director of public affairs, Phil Supple, said the company would acquiesce to demands to pull the advertisement.
"[Schneider’s] ad has unintentionally been used as a platform for discussion unrelated to the products and services we provide," he said. "With that, we are working to remove the ad from our rotation at this time."
The company also moved quickly to remove Schneider from State Farm’s Facebook page as well as from its Twitter cover image.
However, the “Deuce Bigelow” actor has responded to State Farm’s decision via Twitter, according to the New York Daily News.
Thanks to all my supporters who believe as I do that parents should decide what's in the best interests of their child, not Gov't mandates.
— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) September 25, 2014
He also quoted George Washington on the same day that his ad was pulled.
"If the Freedom of Speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter," George Washington — Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) September 24, 2014
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