New York Fox Station Rejects Commercial from Gay Candidate

The New York City affiliate of the Fox Television network has rejected an advertisement from an openly gay candidate for Manhattan Borough President over concerns surrounding the content.

The ad comes from the campaign of Brian Ellner, who is seen as a distant contender for the position. The ad features an image of U.S. President George H.W. Bush's face imposed over an image of a man's naked torso. The image is accompanied by an announcer saying "New Yorkers know the emperor has no clothes."

Ellner was quoted by the New York Times as saying "It's pretty clear it's an anti-free speech decision because of our criticism of the President."

Ellner's campaign also claims to be the first to introduce a candidate's domestic partner in a campaign ad. At the end of the commercial, Ellner introduces his partner, Simon Holloway.
The Fox station, which is owned by Fox Television, a division of the conglomerate News Corporation, stated they felt the ad was in poor taste. Other network stations in the city, as well as numerous cable channels, have agreed to run the ad.

The advertisement in question had been accepted by the Fox station, but was rejected after the station saw the commercial.

Under federal law, broadcast stations are required to accept advertisements for federal candidates, but are allowed some flexibility in advertisements for state and local offices. If the station accepts advertisements from a candidate, it must accept advertisements from all candidates for the office. As of today, no other candidate has sough to purchase advertising from the Fox affiliate.

Ellner For Manhattan