Porter Airlines called ‘anti-Semitic’ after blacklisting Rebel Media
Posted June 7, 2017 9:24 am.
Last Updated June 7, 2017 4:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Porter Airlines is in the eye of a Tweetstorm, as #BoycottPorterAirlines began gaining traction on Tuesday.
The Twitter trouble began when the airline responded to a June 3 tweet from user @SayBlade alerting them that their ads were appearing on what the user called “racist & bigoted” Rebel Media’s website.
Porter replied, acknowledging the tweet, saying “the information has been passed onto our Digital Marketing team.”
Twitter user Sleeping Giants CA followed up.
Sleeping Giants CA describes itself as “trying to stop racist websites by stopping their ad dollars” and posts updates on companies that they have allegedly successfully convinced in this regard.
On Tuesday, Porter Airlines replied saying they had officially blacklisted Rebel Media.
It didn’t take long for #BoycottPorterAirlines to emerge, as users began accusing Porter of bowing to “left-wing bullying” and showing a “hatred” for Conservative values.
Many others went a few steps further, accusing Porter of anti-Semitism, citing that Rebel Media is a Jewish-owned company.
Rebel Media founder Ezra Levant fired back with his own Twitter tirade.
Porter CEO Robert Deluce said in a statement the decision had no bearing on any political views or partialities and was made independent of any such considerations.
But he added that the airline apologizes for confirming the move on Twitter by using the word “blacklist,” which he said was inappropriate and regrettable.
Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report
