Jim Trainor, a spokesman for the carmaker Hyundai, said the company was not making changes, adding
that the its “decision to advertise on any media property is not an endorsement of all views and opinions expressed within it.”
“We are aware of the sensitive story line raised by Mr. Hannity and expect Fox News will use editorial discretion to ensure
that all reporting is substantiated,” he said in an email
“They can more readily make the argument that consumers who don’t like it can watch something else, and
that sponsoring his program doesn’t sponsor someone directly doing something bad.”
A spokesman for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts said some news outlets had characterized the company as pulling ads from Mr. Hannity’s show this week, but he said
that the brand already had a policy against advertising on any political commentary shows.
Mercedes-Benz, which was one of more than 50 brands to pull its ads from “The O’Reilly Factor” in April after reported on settlements Mr. O’Reilly made with at least five women who had accused him of sexual harassment
or other inappropriate behavior, attributed its decision to “the importance of women in every aspect of our business.” When it came to Mr. Hannity, however, the company did not see a need to get involved.
Advertisers figured prominently in the social media maelstrom
that enveloped Mr. O’Reilly last month, as activists and some liberal news outlets circulated lists of the brands running commercials on his program every night and urged consumers to pressure them into pulling out.
For its part, Fox News is standing behind Mr. Hannity, who said he would not appear on his show for the rest of the week.