USAA returns to Hannity realizing mistake
The insurer and financial management service provider USAA reinstated its ads on Sean Hannity‘s Fox News show Tuesday.
USAA had pulled its advertisements from Hannity’s show among fake consumer outrage manufactured by the progressive activist Media Matters for America.
The insurer then felt the sting of true consumer outrage. USAA provides services to military service members, veterans, and their families – a group more likely to support Hannity. USAA customers took to Twitter and Facebook to announce to the world that they had ended their relationships, some decades in length, with the San Antonio-based firm.
We have cancelled our @USAA auto today. We will cancel all other @USAA policies once our new policies have been bound. #IStandWIthHannity
— šŗšø Afterseven āļø š (@Afterseven) May 25, 2017
Its time for me to re new my policies, after 12 years with USAA I'm taking my business elsewhere. 2 sons ex military will cancel tomorrow
— LOVE USAšŗšø (@madatcorruption) May 25, 2017
The threat from the left was illegitimate. The idea that advertising on Hannity would in any way cause a massive cancellation avalanche is ridiculous on itsĀ face. Would this reaction come from the massive number of far-left activist Marines? Or would the sudden loss of business come from the ANTIFA (Anti-Fascist anarchist) members of the Army?
USAA’s pulling of ads from Hannity was ill-thought and they’ve felt the sting forĀ having betrayed the military community.
āWe heard concerns from many members who watch and listen to these programs,ā USAA said in a statement Tuesday. āOur goal in advertising has always been to reach members of the military community who would benefit from USAAās well-known commitment to service. Today, the lines between news and editorial are increasingly blurred.ā
Sean Hannity confirmed the change of heart and asked his supporters to continue supporting USAA.
https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/869628346103156736
Companies who react to progressive activism without understanding who actually buys their products will want to review this use case. Understand your consumer base before you get pulled down by Media Matters and the squeaky, but fake, voices of outrage from the left.