Ingraham loses advertiser over ‘summer camps’ comment as network stands by host

InterActiveCorp., a media and internet company, has pulled its advertising from Laura Ingraham’s Fox News program following comments made by the host referring to child migrant detention centers as “essentially summer camps,” according to a report.

Politico reports that IAC decided to remove ads from two companies it represents — HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List – from the highly rated prime-time show.

The removal of the ads comes following Ingraham’s comments on an article in The San Diego Union-Tribune which referred to a facility for unaccompanied children at the southern border in El Cajon, Calif. as comparable to a “boarding school” noting that there were “classrooms, a play area with soccer goals and a medical clinic.”

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Ingraham noted that report while saying the migrant centers were “essentially summer camps.”

“As more illegal immigrants are rushing the border, more kids are being separated from their parents,” Ingraham said. “And temporarily housed at what are essentially summer camps.”

Despite IAC pulling its ads, the network said in a statement to The Hill that it is standing by Ingraham, stating that new advertisers continue to “opt in” to its prime-time lineup, which is the highest rated in basic cable.

“There’s been no impact on our business, and new advertisers continue to opt in for our powerful prime-time lineup,” according to a Fox News spokesperson.

Fox News also issued a statement Tuesday after Ingraham’s comments began to go viral and boycott calls grew on social media.

“Laura Ingraham’s very personal, on-the-ground commitment to the plight of impoverished and abandoned children — specifically in Guatemala — speaks for itself,” the statement reads. “So, too, does her strong belief in a common-sense, legal immigration system, which will continue to be a focus of her show. Fox News will never tolerate or give in to attempts to silence diverse viewpoints by agenda-driven intimidation efforts.”

Ingraham attempted to clarify her comments near the end of her show Monday, again citing the Union-Tribune “boarding school” description and stating she will “stick to there are some of them like boarding schools” instead of the description of “essentially summer camps.”

“Apparently, there are a lot of people very upset because we referred to some of the detention facilities tonight as essentially like summer camps,” Ingraham said. “The San Diego Union-Tribune today described the facilities as essentially like what you would expect at a boarding school. So I will stick to there are some of them like boarding scools.”

The call for a boycott of her program began in earnest on Tuesday when Parkland, Fla., shooting survivor and activist David Hogg sent a series of tweets that included sharing a list advertisers of “The Ingraham Angle.”

Hogg’s previous boycott call of Ingraham’s show in late March also included sharing advertising companies after the host mocked him for not being accepted to four colleges he applied to.

“So @IngrahamAngle we meet again. Who are you biggest advertisers now?” Hogg asked before adding in a subsequent tweet, “If we get these advertisers pulled maybe @Ingraham will have to become a camp counselor and learn how wrong she is.” 

So @IngrahamAngle we meet again. Who are you biggest advertisers now?

— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) June 19, 2018

If we get these advertisers pulled maybe @Ingraham will have to become a camp counselor and learn how wrong she is.
1. @BeachesResorts & @SandalsResorts
2.@SIRIUSXM
3. @CarfaxReports
4. @AceHardware
5. IAC (Angie’s List, Home Advisor, Match)
6. @Cabelas
7. @JohnDeere

— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) June 19, 2018

Hogg’s first boycott call resulted in more than 20 advertisers pulling ads from the show. 

But, Ingraham’s ratings have only improved since then, jumping 16 percent in total viewers and 17 percent in the key 25-54-year-old demographic that advertisers covet most, according to a recent analysis by The Wrap.com.

Overall, the show delivered 2.589 million viewers in May to finish No. 4 overall in the cable news ratings race behind Fox News’s Sean Hannity, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and Fox News’s Tucker Carlson.