Garth Gator Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 In light of a fatal event, BlackRock has pulled a commercial featuring Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally. The advertisement, originally produced in 2022, was part of a campaign targeting teachers managing their retirement assets and was filmed at Bethel Park High School, where Crooks was a student.  The video showcased a genuine classroom setting with actual students, including Crooks, to underscore BlackRock’s dedication to educators.    However, after the violent incident at Trump’s rally, BlackRock, one of the world’s greatest asset managers, decided to withdraw the advertisement. The company clarified that Crooks was not compensated for his appearance and was not hired as an actor.  BlackRock condemned the act of violence as “abhorrent” and extended its sympathies to those affected. “We’re thankful former President Trump wasn’t seriously injured and thinking about all the innocent bystanders and victims of this awful act, especially the person who was killed,” it shared in a statement. It also reiterated its strong stance against political violence and its commitment to fostering civility and unity.  The FBI is currently investigating the incident as an assassination attempt. BlackRock has pledged full cooperation with the authorities, providing all relevant video footage from the advertisement’s production.    https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4772735-trump-rally-gunman-blackrock/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thomas-matthew-crooks-blackrock-ad-pulled/ https://nypost.com/2024/07/15/us-news/blackrock-pulls-ad-that-featured-trump-shooter-thomas-matthew-crooks/    Opening image: Chriscintron | Dreamstime.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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