Simmons Buys Ads for 'All-American Muslim'

The Root DC is reporting that hip-hop mogul and activist Russell Simmons has stepped up to purchase ads for TLC's reality show All-American Muslim after Lowe's recently withdrew its support, following complaints from a Florida family organization.

Lowe's decision caused a loud public outcry. Simmons, who is chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, which promotes racial and interfaith harmony -- especially among Jews and Muslims -- went on Twitter to decry the move. He called it "stupid" and "Islamophobic."

The Root DC reports:

Now, he's gone a step further.

He tweeted on Monday, "Just purchased remaining spots for [‘All American Muslim'] for next week. He also said, "The show is now sold out! keep your money [Lowe's] and we will keep ours."

The Post's Paul Farhi wrote about the complaints from the Florida Family Association and conservative bloggers like Pamela Gellar that spawned the controversy and led to Lowe's pulling the ads.

Other celebrities including actors Kal Penn and Mia Farrow also made statements on Twitter against Lowe's. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, said, "Corporate America needs to take a stand against these anti-Muslim fringe groups and stand up for what is right because this is what it means to be an American."

A petition was also created to keep the show's current sponsors to remain with the show and already has more than 20,000 signatures.

Way to go, Russell Simmons. To borrow a cliché, he doesn't just talk the talk; he walks the walk. Goodness knows we have enough talkers out there.

Read The Root's earlier coverage here.

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