Allstate CEO has Bud Light moment in what critics call ‘apology’ to Islam after terror attack 

The CEO of Allstate has drawn unwanted attention to himself and his company after he sent out a tone-deaf message in the wake of the Islamic terror attack in New Orleans. 

Critics said the message from Tom Wilson, aired prior to college football’s Sugar Bowl game sponsored by the insurance giant, was insensitive and reflects the backward thinking embraced by corporate America promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

The terror attack has so far left 14 people dead and 35 injured after authorities say an Army veteran, Shamsud Din Jabbar, deliberately drove a truck around crowd control barriers into a throng of people on Tuesday. After crashing, Jabbar opened fire on New Orleans police officers, wounding two, before he was killed, reported local WDSU New Orleans.  

The terrorist also planted improvised explosive devices at selected intersections, reported the TV news station. 

President Joe Biden later said the FBI briefed him that “mere hours before the attack, [Jabbar] posted videos on social media indicating that he’s inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill,” reported ABC News. 

The college football game, held in the New Orleans Superdome, was subsequently postponed for 24 hours. 

Prior to the game, neither the Allstate CEO nor sports broadcaster ESPN, which carried the football game live, seemed to have returned to their senses after the terror attack shocked the nation. 

That’s because, in place of the national anthem and the moment of silence for the victims observed at the stadium, the sports network owned by Disney, showed a video with Wilson’s message that critics are slamming as an “apology” to Islam. 

“Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” said Wilson in the Allstate Sugar Bowl video. “We also need to be stronger together by overcoming an addiction to divisiveness and negativity. Join Allstate working in local communities all across America to amplify the positive, increase trust and accept people’s imperfections and differences. Together we win.” 

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said everyone connected with the release of the video should be fired.  

“Instead of condemning terrorism, Allstate CEO [Tom] Wilson said we should reflect on a terrorist attack by overcoming ‘divisiveness and negativity’ and accept imperfections and differences,’” said Blackburn via X. “Unbelievable.”  

Blackburn later took a shot at the FBI too, which has aggressively recruited law enforcement DEI candidates based on color and sexual preference, not based on competence.  

“@Allstate should focus on insurance and sponsoring football games and the FBI should focus on keeping us safe – not lecturing us on diversity and negativity,” she said via X.  

According to Libs of TikTok, Allstate has bragged it is among the top 50 companies in the U.S. for DEI. 

The gaffe by Wilson and Allstate have led some to call the awkward video message Allstate’s “Bud Light” moment.  

The term refers to the meltdown that happened to the Bud Light beer brand after it used a biological male who identifies as a woman, Dylan Mulvaney, as a social media spokesperson. 

The ensuing backlash from people tired of transgender ideology dominating the media caused Bud Light to lose its top spot in beer sales, falling behind Modelo Especial and Michelob Ultra. 

The effect on Allstate, fueled by social media, as it was in the Mulvaney/Bud Light tryst, could be immediate. 

“Time to cancel @Allstate,” said Sean Davis of the Federalist. “Do you really want an insurance company that talks about murder and terrorism this way?”  

The message was heard by at least one local Allstate agent who took to Facebook to apologize for Wilson’s comments. 

“While I represent Allstate as a local agent, I want to make it clear that the recent remarks made by Allstate CEO Tom Wilson do not reflect my personal views or the values I uphold in serving you, my customers,” said agent Leesah McConnell. 

But that might not be enough to save Allstate from the embarrassment, not just of the self-inflicted wounds of the video message, but of DEI policies which are now a target of consumers. 

“Hey @Allstate. The internet never forgets,” said one social media user. “I’m just a small fish. And you won’t miss me. But I just canceled our policies with you.”  

Wilson has made hundreds of donations under $300 to the Allstate Insurance PAC which raised $600,000 in the 2024 election cycle, donating to both parties more or less equally.