(NewsWorthy.news) – Hulu has reportedly rejected a Texas Church’s advert and claimed that it violates the streaming service’s policies on religious indoctrination. First Liberty Institute issued a statement saying that the rejection of the 22-second advert for Hulen Street Church in Fort Worth was unfair. The advert was previously featured on Facebook, Google Ads and Instagram and promoted the Church’s Thursday services. Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys of the First Liberty Institute wrote to Hulu asking them to clarify their position on religious indoctrination to ensure that religious speech such as that in the advertisement is welcome on the platform.
Dys described the decision by the Disney-owned streaming platform as “troubling”. The Special Counsel accused the company of hypocrisy as he noted that it allowed adverts for liquor, beer and gambling. He asked Hulu to clarify its position on religious indoctrination and commented that though the platform’s policy on ad restriction clearly states that the company will review religious adverts on a case-by-case basis, it does not refer to “religious indoctrination” specifically.
Religious ads in general have not been confined to conservative talking points; in 2023 the “He Gets Us” commercials seen on billboards and online banner ads tried to move away from negative public perception of the Church by appealing to ethnic minorities and LGBT communities. The ads pushed the message that Jesus was a refugee and was also unfairly marginalized by his society. Attacks against Churches reportedly doubled in 2023 according to findings by the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, which has monitored violence against churches in the U.S. since 2018.
Pastor Wes Hamilton of the Hulen Street Church explained that he was immediately interested in utilizing the advertising capabilities of the company. The advertisement was aimed at those who could not make it to Sunday services, and put across a straightforward message that advertised the Church’s Thursday services. The commentary on the video put across the message that just because people cannot make it to Sunday service it does not mean their faith is not important to them. The Pastor submitted the ad twice only for it to be rejected by Hulu both times. When Hamilton asked for an explanation Hulu claimed it violated their terms of service.
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