Debra Messing calls out Will & Grace network over Trump ad
Debra Messing at NBC’s Will & Grace premiere (Kevin Winter/Getty)
Will & Grace star Debra Messing has called out the show’s TV network, NBC, after it aired an ad from President Donald Trump attacking immigration.
The 30-second advert, which was released by the president’s official campaign ahead of Tuesday’s midterms elections, attempted to stoke fears of a “migrant caravan” ahead of the vote.
The Trump ad was rejected by several TV networks including CNN and Fox News over its racially-motivated content, but NBC opted to allow it to air.
Messing, whose show has aired on NBC since 1998, called out the network for the decision in a tweet.
Debra Messing (Rob Kim/Getty)
She wrote: “To our Will and Grace fans—I want you to know that I am ashamed that my network aired this disgusting racist ad.
“It is the antithesis of everything I personally believe in, and what, I believe, our show is all about.”
NBC has since pulled the ad after the backlash.
A statement said: “After further review we recognise the insensitive nature of the ad and have decided to cease airing it across our properties as soon as possible.”
The Trump ad has also been blocked from airing on Facebook.
Actors Debra Messing and Eric McCormack arrive at the GLSEN Respect Awards (Gregg DeGuire/Getty)
Facebook told Reuters: “This ad violates Facebook’s advertising policy against sensational content so we are rejecting it. While the video is allowed to be posted on Facebook, it cannot receive paid distribution.”
The president’s favoured TV channel Fox News also pulled the ad, confirming: “Upon further review, Fox News pulled the ad yesterday and it will not appear on either Fox News Channel or Fox Business Network.”
The ad urges people to vote Republican in order to stop “the 7,000-migrant caravan… marching toward our border.”
Gay sitcom Will & Grace made a comeback on NBC in 2017, returning to the airwaves more than a decade after the show’s original ending.
The revival is currently in its second season, marking the 10th season overall.
Messing plays Grace Adler, the straight best friend of gay character Will Truman (Eric McCormick).
Messing has long been an outspoken supporter of LGBT+ rights and the Democrats, and has become even more outspoken in her opposition of the Trump administration.
(Getty)
The show itself has also taken plenty of pot shots at the Trump administration.
An episode of the show in 2017 featured multiple references to Vice President Mike Pence at a gay ‘cure’ therapy camp.
Glee’s Jane Lynch and Girls star Andrew Rannells appeared as Christian gay ‘cure’ practitioners in the episode, “Grandpa Jack.”
The camp is decorated with posters of Vice President Mike Pence.
Will & Grace co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan explained that the plot line was inspired by Pence’s alleged gay ‘cure’ support.
They said: “We don’t recognise it as a form of therapy — we only recognise it as a form of torture.”
