Tom Wilson, the chairman and chief executive officer of Allstate – sponsor of the Sugar Bowl – sparked severe backlash on social media Thursday afternoon after his statement following the New Year’s Day terror attacks in New Orleans.
Just before the start of the game, Wilson delivered a video statement in which he suggested Americans have an “addiction to divisiveness” and need to “accept people’s imperfections and differences.”
“Our prayers went to victims and their families,” Wilson told viewers. “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.”
NEW: Allstate CEO Tom Wilson says Americans need to overcome their "addiction of divisiveness" and "accept people's differences" following the terror attack in New Orleans.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 2, 2025
If only Shamsud Din Jabbar had heard this message two days ago!
The comment was made at the start of the… pic.twitter.com/WDPWZhPrru
Early morning revelry following New Year’s celebrations was shattered around 3:15 Wednesday morning as a driver drove a truck into a crowd, killing or injuring dozens. Then, the driver, identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, exited the vehicle and opened fire on police, wounding two law enforcement officers.
Din Jabbar was killed in the firefight with the officers. Authorities also found an ISIS flag attached to Din Jabbar’s truck.
X users accused Wilson of reacting in a tone-deaf and “limp-wristed” manner.
AllState CEO special messge on TV just now sounding like a terrorist apologist. Crazy.
— Bengals Bot (@Thaytona) January 2, 2025
Allstate CEO Tim Wilson calls the mass*cre of Americans in New Orleans an “imperfection.”
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 3, 2025
Wilson needs to step down as CEO immediately and the Allstate stock needs to collapse.
What he’s said is unforgivable.pic.twitter.com/DY7sqFmIIa
This might be the most braindead, tone deaf CEO pontification of all time. Screw you, Tom. And screw you, @Allstate https://t.co/rN1ED20eQB
— Shoff (@Voluntoldyaso) January 2, 2025
@Allstate
— David Zailer (@davidzailer) January 2, 2025
Your CEO is an idiot.
Your Sugar Bowl ad was an insult to Americans.
If I were the board of @Allstate I’d fire this CEO for being dumb enough to read the presser written by the woke intern.
— SteveAustinWI (@SteveAustinWI) January 3, 2025
pic.twitter.com/XMduyBzWAL
I canceled Allstate months ago bc they don't pay on claims
— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) January 3, 2025
But if i was, I'd cancel it, I'm not about to hear their CEO preach to me how we should be tolerant after Americans were mowed down in a terrorist attack in New Orleans
Cancel Allstate. I did
pic.twitter.com/AckN73j257
After an evil, ISIS supporter killed over a dozen people & seriously injured a dozen more, the AllState Sugar Bowl kicked off with the AllState CEO lecturing viewers on “divisiveness and negativity”…
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 2, 2025
"We also need to be stronger together by overcoming an addiction to… pic.twitter.com/HReOC5GXp1
A jihadist attacked and injured dozens of innocent Americans in a hate-fueled rampage, and the Allstate CEO uses the Sugar Bowl to lecture viewers on “overcoming an addiction to divisiveness and negativity”?
— Tony Lane 🇺🇸 (@TonyLaneNV) January 2, 2025
Unacceptable! ⬇️ 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/p1FVBOeebQ
A jihadist killed and maimed dozens of innocent Americans in a hate-fueled rampage, and the CEO of Allstate thinks Americans watching the Sugar Bowl need a lecture from him on overcoming “an addiction to divisiveness and negativity?”
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 2, 2025
Absolutely not!! pic.twitter.com/CuyOYoz1mg
At least 14 people died and dozens more were injured by Din Jabbar’s attack. The attack has heightened concerns about security in the Crescent City with the Super Bowl set to take place at Caesars Superdome on February 9.