Russell Simmons Calls for Lowe’s Boycott, Personally Buys Ad Time on ‘All-American Muslim’

Entrepreneur and hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, who called for a boycott of retail home improvement chain, Lowe’s, after it pulled its advertising from TLC’s All-American Muslim, is willing to place his money where his mouth is.

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“Just purchased remaining spots for #allamericanmuslim for next week,” Simmons, 54, tweeted on Monday. “The show is now sold out! keep your money @lowes and we will keep ours.”

A rep for Simmons confirms the ad buy and tells The Hollywood Reporter that the ad space will go toward promoting the RushCard, a prepaid Visa debit card. A TLC spokesperson tells THR it has no comment on the ad buy at this time, but will know more on Tuesday.

Later on Monday, it seems that Simmons did run in to some problems. “Oh now the long term advertisers want their spots,” he tweets. “my office @unirush is fighting to hold spots #allamericanmuslim sold out.”

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Later, he writes, “I’m trying to buy ads during #AllAmericanMuslim airing this Sunday, but now they are saying they are sold out. I will keep trying…”

Simmons, actress Mia Farrow and California State Senatory Ted Lieu were among the first public figures to call for a boycott of Lowe’s after it pulled its advertising from the reality show last week under apparent pressure from conservative evangelical group, the Florida Family Association.

“Prediction.. Americans of all faiths will come tgthr & tell Lowes that we dnt support companies that submit 2 h8,” Simmons, who practices Buddhism, tweeted on Sunday.

All-American Muslim follows the lives of several Muslim families in Dearborn, Mich. New episodes air Sundays at 10 p.m. on TLC.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro