Tim Allen, known for his iconic roles in Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, founded the NWAA earlier this year, rallying actors who felt Hollywood was more interested in virtue signaling than creating meaningful entertainment. The boycott was triggered by ABC’s moderating team during the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, where critics, particularly from conservative circles, slammed the network’s moderators for allegedly fact-checking Trump more harshly than Harris.
“It wasn’t even a debate. It was a roast,” Allen said in a statement. “The moderators didn’t even pretend to be neutral. They’ve lost all sense of professionalism, and they’ve lost us as viewers.”
The spark that lit the boycott flame was ABC’s coverage of the debate, which featured moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. Critics on the right, including members of the NWAA, claim the moderators were unfairly tough on Trump, constantly interrupting him, fact-checking him in real-time, and allowing Harris to slide on her answers.