Staff Reports
Tom Wilson, the big cheese over at Allstate—yes, the same Allstate sponsoring the Sugar Bowl—decided to share his thoughts following the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans. While one might expect a message of solidarity and strength after such a brutal act, Wilson instead kicked off a diatribe about America’s “addiction to divisiveness.” Apparently, he thinks the way to heal from a violent tragedy is by holding hands and singing Kumbaya.
In his pre-game video statement, Wilson sent prayers to the victims but then trudged on with an invitation for Americans to embrace their “imperfections and differences.” One has to wonder if he’s ever read the room. People aren’t looking for group therapy sessions after a terror attack; they want reassurance and a plan to keep their communities safe. Instead, they got a corporate leader pushing for acceptance like it’s some kind of team-building exercise at the office, completely ignoring the fact that Americans were just attacked by someone waving an ISIS flag.
The early morning chaos last Wednesday could only be described as a nightmare. A truck plowed through a crowd, leading to at least 14 deaths and numerous injuries. The assailant, identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, didn’t stop with just the truck; he had to exit and start shooting at police. In his final moments, Din Jabbar found himself in a firefight with officers—as though he had just walked too far in a video game’s final level, clearly deluded by whatever rage filled his heart.
CEO of Sugar Bowl Sponsor Blasted for Claiming Americans Are 'Addicted to Divisiveness' After New Orleans Terror Attack https://t.co/ydKp6kf8BN
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) January 3, 2025
Back in the social media realm, Wilson quickly faced a tsunami of backlash. The online community wasn’t shy about voicing their displeasure, suggesting that Wilson must have found his stance somewhere between tone-deaf and outright cowardly. Responses ranged from expressing disgust at his limp-wristed call for unity to outright derision about how it reflects Allstate’s views of the world. Perhaps the only thing more baffling than the attack itself was Wilson’s attempt to redirect the narrative away from the heinous act toward some sort of feel-good message.
With the Super Bowl fast approaching, and security concerns resonating through the Crescent City like a bad hangover, one has to wonder if corporate leaders are out of touch with reality. Maybe instead of urging unity during a time of tragedy while standing behind a corporate shield, they should focus on ensuring the safety of citizens. Otherwise, the next time Allstate tries to offer a “good hands” moment, Americans might just respond with a big middle finger.
