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Larry the Cable Guy says corporate America has a double standard when it comes to choosing which entertainers are too controversial for advertising campaigns.
The comedian spoke about DirecTV, suggesting the satellite TV provider missed an obvious advertising opportunity with the slogan — “Larry the Cable Guy has switched to DirecTV.” He later clarified on X that it was a “light-hearted conversation,” adding that his “career has been amazing and I’m not unhappy about anything.”
During an appearance on “The MeatEater Podcast,” Larry recalled seeing a DirecTV commercial with an actor “back in the day” and said, “The first thing I thought was, ‘Why don’t they get me? Larry the Cable Guy is switching to DirecTV.’”
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Larry the Cable Guy criticized what he sees as a double standard in corporate advertising, arguing that brands embrace entertainers he considers more controversial than himself. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
A podcast host agreed with the idea, saying, “Oh, dude, that would have been genius.”
The comedian agreed, saying, “It would have been huge!”
Larry said he believed there was concern that his Southern accent and edgy humor might appeal to only one slice of America and make him too controversial for a national advertising campaign.
“At the time, ‘Well, Larry the Cable Guy is only really for one part of the country, you know, ’cause of the Southern accent, sometimes he says things that are a little controversial,'” he explained of the general sentiment then.
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The comedian said DirecTV missed a major advertising opportunity by not tapping him for a campaign that would have played off his famous stage name. (Getty Images)
But the comedian rejected that reasoning.
“Meanwhile, you got freaking rappers singing about killing cops” and making degrading remarks about women, he argued. “They’re getting all kinds of corporate stuff. I’m, like, going, ‘How am I controversial when you got … you know what I mean?”
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He singled out Snoop Dogg, who has appeared in major advertising campaigns, including Super Bowl commercials. Larry emphasized that he did not fault the rapper for accepting those opportunities.
Snoop Dogg has appeared in major advertising campaigns, including Super Bowl commercials, but Larry the Cable Guy questioned why corporations embrace entertainers he considers more controversial than himself. (James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“I got nothing against Snoop Dogg,” he said. “God bless Snoop Dogg.
“There’s a lot of hypocrisy in corporate, who they get and who they don’t get. Look, I’ve had a good career. I ain’t worried about it. But I’m just saying that DirecTV pissed me off.”
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He said again he doesn’t have any issue with Snoop Dogg, explaining, “I love everybody, and I’m happy for everybody’s career. I’m not mad at them, I’m upset at the corporations that would say ‘you’re too controversial,’ but then they’ll put somebody else that’s even way more controversial.’”
Larry the Cable Guy questioned corporate America’s approach to celebrity endorsements during an appearance on “The MeatEater Podcast,” accusing companies of hypocrisy. (Isaiah Vazquez/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Larry, whose real name is Daniel Whitney, built a national following with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White.
His signature catchphrase, “Git-R-Done,” and blue-collar comedy persona helped launch a career that has included stand-up, comedy albums, movies and television.
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Editor’s note: This story was revised after Larry the Cable Guy said some of his comments were taken out of context and that he harbors no genuine ill toward corporations over their treatment of him.