Allstate CEO Tom Wilson has sparked outrage on social media after releasing a statement addressing the New Orleans terror attack that killed over a dozen people. In the video, Wilson suggested that Americans have an “addiction to divisiveness” and must “accept people’s imperfections and differences.” Many social media users have expressed their outrage and discontent with Wilson’s comments, citing the suspect’s suspected ties to ISIS.
Wilson’s statement was released ahead of the Sugar Bowl, of which Allstate is the official corporate sponsor, which was postponed due to the attack. Many people have called for a boycott of Allstate and have expressed their intent to cancel their insurance plans with the company.
Several social media users have spoken out against Wilson, including political activist Charlie Kirk, Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of The Federalist, and sports content creator Jon Root. Injury lawyer Adam Loewy has also condemned Wilson’s statement and called out Allstate as a company in response to the controversy.
In response to the backlash, Allstate provided a statement saying that CEO Tom Wilson unequivocally condemns terrorism and violence in all forms. The company stated that the reference to overcoming divisiveness and negativity reflects a broader commitment to fostering trust and positivity in communities across the nation.
The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was identified as a 42-year-old man with ties to ISIS. His younger brother has spoken out, saying that Jabbar converted to Islam as an adult and that his actions do not represent Islam.