Podcast Sponsors Pull Out After Backlash Over Episode
Brands buying host-read podcast ads face reputational risk when episode content draws public criticism.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Advertising
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Should companies pull advertising from podcasts whose hosts make controversial political jokes?
Cash App, Chewy, Boll & Branch, and Lola Blankets have ended sponsorships of Jennifer Welch's podcast I've Had It after backlash over a November 5 episode in which hosts mocked Charlie Kirk. For advertisers and operators, the case shows how quickly a single episode can trigger public pressure on brand sponsorship relationships.
Why it matters
The companies acted after social media users tagged them and called for a boycott, with Cash App citing its opposition to violence. The backlash centered on an episode in which hosts read posts ridiculing conservatives and Welch read a comment about Kirk, showing how content adjacency can become a reputational risk for sponsors.
Four sponsors, including Cash App, Chewy, Boll & Branch, and Lola Blankets, have ended ties with the podcast following backlash. Boll & Branch and Lola Blankets were named as sponsors in the October 27 episode description, and Cash App's sponsorship appeared in earlier episodes.
The players
Cash App
Cash App is a mobile payments and financial services platform owned by Block, Inc., serving consumers and small businesses in the United States.
Chewy
Chewy is an online retailer of pet food and supplies, operating a large direct-to-consumer e-commerce business in the United States.
Boll & Branch
Boll & Branch is a direct-to-consumer bedding company selling luxury cotton sheets and home textiles online.
Lola Blankets
Lola Blankets is a direct-to-consumer maker of blankets and home goods that markets primarily through online channels.
The details
Sponsors responded to public pressure that spread across X, where users tagged the brands and shared responses. Cash App said it no longer sponsors the program after a user called for a boycott, while Chewy and Lola Blankets confirmed in customer-service and direct messages that they no longer work with the show. The episode at the center of the backlash, titled 'Drinking MAGA Tears,' featured hosts reading social media posts celebrating Democratic election victories and mocking conservatives.
Timeline
October 27: Episode naming Boll & Branch and Lola Blankets as sponsors aired.
November 5: 'Drinking MAGA Tears' episode aired with the Kirk remark.
November 7, 2026: Companies announced they no longer sponsor the podcast.
Market Landscape
Host-read sponsorships on podcasts depend on the show's audience and the host's on-air commentary, which means a sponsor's brand can be linked to episode content it did not write. Advertisers in this format often weigh audience reaction alongside reach when deciding whether to keep or renew placements.
Marketing teams that buy host-read podcast placements should review episode content and audience reaction before renewing or extending sponsorships. Brands should also consider contract terms that address content standards and early termination if reputational risk arises.
The takeaway
Host-read sponsorships carry editorial risk that brands cannot fully control, so operators should build content review and exit provisions into podcast ad agreements. Advertising teams should track audience backlash signals on social media as an early indicator before sponsorship decisions are made.
Further reading
For context on how sponsors and audiences respond to content like this, explore more in Advertising.
Live Poll
Should companies pull advertising from podcasts whose hosts make controversial political jokes?
