Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL's YouTube unit is facing serious backlash from advertisers after some companies have come forward and said that their brands are being shown in videos that contain offensive content from terrorist and hate groups.

The scandal started in the United Kingdom, and several local brands, including Marks & Spencer, pulled their ads from YouTube. However, American brands, including Verizon Communications Inc. VZ and Johnson & Johnson JNJ have followed suit.

General Motors Issues A Statement

In a statement to Benzinga, General Motors Company GM confirmed it has suspended ads on YouTube until "Google can adhere to our brand standards."

Who Else Is Pulling Ads?

A Bloomberg report dated March 24 listed American brands who have also decided to pull their ads from YouTube:

  • Verizon.
  • Johnson & Johnson.
  • PepsiCo, Inc. PEP.
  • Starbucks Corporation SBUX.
  • Wal-Mart Stores Inc WMT.

A Wall Street Journal report further noted the following companies have also pulled their ads on the video streaming platform.

  • The Coca-Cola Co KO.
  • DISH Network Corp DISH.
  • Twenty-First Century Fox Inc FOXA's FX Networks.
  • AT&T Inc. T.

Also, Toyota Motor Corp (ADR) TM and Microsoft Corporation MSFT were said to be monitoring the situation closely but have not made a decision to pull ads.

Related Links:

Some Early Fallout As EU Officials Demand Changes To Social Titans' Codes Of Conduct

Advertising Community Says Google's YouTube Ad Scandal 'A Real Issue'

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