Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL)'s YouTube unit is facing serious backlash from advertisers
after some companies have come forward and
said that their brands are being shown in videos that contain offensive content from terrorist and hate groups.
The scandal started in the United Kingdom, and several local brands, including Marks & Spencer, pulled their ads from YouTube.
However, American brands, including Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) have
followed suit.
General Motors Issues A Statement
In a statement to Benzinga, General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) confirmed it has suspended ads on YouTube until "Google can adhere to our brand
standards."
Who Else Is Pulling Ads?
A
Bloomberg report dated March 24 listed American brands who have also decided to pull their ads from YouTube:
- Verizon.
- Johnson & Johnson.
-
PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP).
-
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX).
-
Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT).
A
Wall Street Journal report further noted the following companies have also pulled their ads on the video streaming
platform.
-
The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO).
-
DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ: DISH).
-
Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ: FOXA)'s FX
Networks.
-
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T).
Also, Toyota Motor Corp (ADR) (NYSE: TM) and
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) were said to be
monitoring the situation closely but have not made a decision to pull ads.
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Community Says Google's YouTube Ad Scandal 'A Real Issue'
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