Jason Whitlock, a sports commentator and host for Blaze Media, recently found himself at the center of a humorous online incident involving targeted advertisements. While searching for the 2023 NFL standings on ESPN.com, Whitlock claimed to have encountered an inappropriate ad with explicit language.
He shared a screenshot of the ad, which promoted birthday decorations with a suggestive message, on social media, questioning its appropriateness. This led to widespread online amusement, as many pointed out that targeted ads are influenced by an individual’s search history and online behavior.
I’m looking at NFL standings on https://t.co/mwKPcWYZM0. This is the ad running above the standings. How is this possible? Appropriate? pic.twitter.com/GlMtT3VY1f
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) January 1, 2024
Former ESPN personality Katie Nolan reposted Whitlock’s message and shared a statement from ESPN regarding targeted advertising. Others, including former NBA player Etan Thomas, chimed in to explain the concept of retargeting and humorously noted Whitlock’s unintentional self-trolling.
#JasonWhitlock it’s called retargeting. Meaning it shows you ads based on your search history. Meaning, your holier than thou self just told the entire world that you’ve been looking up filth flarn filth in your spare time pic.twitter.com/J1bdM7fd21
— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) January 2, 2024
Despite the online banter, Whitlock remained resolute in his stance, arguing that algorithms are “rigged” against him and that he will continue to voice his concerns about the sexualized content prevalent on the internet. He emphasized that he is not the only one encountering hyper-sexualized advertising and questioned why mainstream corporations align with the adult entertainment industry.
Whitlock’s history with ESPN was mentioned, including his two stints with the network, his founding role at “The Undefeated,” and his departure in 2015. He claimed that his departure was due to ESPN’s preference for a more feminized representation, stating that the network did not welcome “men with balls.”
Whitlock’s career journey also included his time at Fox Sports and his departure from OutKick in 2020. The article highlighted his outspoken nature and his dedication to addressing issues related to masculinity and corporate influence.
In the end, Whitlock’s unintentional encounter with a suggestive ad sparked online amusement and conversations about targeted advertising, but it did not deter him from expressing his views on the state of online content and corporate influence.