Allstate CEO Tom Wilson ignited a storm of social media backlash Thursday with a video statement addressing Wednesday Terrorist attack In New Orleans, which killed more than ten people.
Wilson's statement came before Sugar bowlof which Allstate is an official sponsor, after the game was postponed to Thursday due to the attack. In the video, Wilson noted that Americans have an “addiction to division” and must “accept people's flaws and differences.”
“Our prayers go out to the victims and their families. We also need to be stronger together by overcoming our addiction to division and negativity. Join Allstate working in communities across America to amplify positivity, increase trust, and accept people’s flaws and differences. Together, we won,” Wilson says. In the video.
Wilson's words sparked anger among social media users. The suspect was identified as 42-year-old Shams al-Din Jabbar. The FBI is working to determine Jabbar's “possible ties and affiliations with terrorist organizations” after an ISIS flag was found pinned to the truck.
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Political activist Charlie Kirk spoke out against Wilson over his comments amid Jabbar's suspected ties to ISIS.
Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of the conservative magazine The Federalist, suggested it's time to eliminate Allstate insurance plans.
Sports content creator John Root spoke out against Wilson and mocked his comments.
SUPERDOME welcomes SUGAR BOWL fans after the terrorist attack in New Orleans
Injury attorney Adam Lowe not only condemned Wilson's statement, but called out Allstate as a company in response to the controversy.
Smaller social media users expressed their own complaints and intent to terminate their insurance plans in response to Wilson.
“What was Allstat? “Thinking of this statement(?) I just canceled my policy and signed up for State Farm,” one user wrote.
“This is the Allstate with the curly wrists Another wrote: “The terrorist attack commercial is exactly what I needed to know I wouldn't give them my business.”
One user even called the commercial “the worst and most offensive of the college football season.”
Allstate provided a statement to Fox News Digital in response to the backlash.
“To be clear, Tom Wilson, CEO of Allstate, unequivocally condemns this heinous act of terrorism and violence in all its forms. We stand with the families, loved ones of the victims and the New Orleans community. This reference to overcoming division and negativity reflects the importance of overcoming division and negativity,” the statement said. A broader commitment to promoting confidence and positivity in communities across the country.”
Jabbar's younger brother He told the New York Times He and his Army veteran brother were raised Christians in Beaumont, Texas, before the deceased attacker converted to Islam as an adult.
The younger brother said: “What he did does not represent Islam.” “This is a kind of extremism, not religion.”
Retired FBI agents Scott Duffy and Chris Swecker He told Fox News Digital Wednesday's attack could embolden ISIS, other terrorist groups or radicalized individuals.
“This is a time when ISIS is under intense pressure and its presence is threatened in Syria and elsewhere. It would make sense for them to double down on their message of radicalizing Americans in order to activate them and any cells they have in the country,” Swecker said.
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Days before the attack, a pro-ISIS media outlet published He called Muslims They live in the United States, Europe and Russia to launch attacks on New Year's Eve.
A translated version of the leaflet said: “O monotheists in Europe, America, Russia and other countries of the Crusaders, we know that you are keen to join your brothers in the land of jihad, but your path has been cut off.” Sunday. “The Crusaders are among you, their security has been prolonged, and your brothers are being killed.
The post continued: “The time has come to take the swords out of their sheaths and put the horses in their places that God loves and is pleased with.” “They are preparing for the feast of their polytheism, but around their feast there is sadness, and their joy is a curse.”
The perpetrator asked the Muslims, or “Crusaders,” whether they felt as safe in their homes as their brothers and sisters did in detention centers and camps, before calling on them to “repeat the assault on them and repeat the days of those who preceded you in doing this.” road.”
The attack in New Orleans comes about two weeks after the suspect Terrorist attack At the Christmas market in Germany.
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