Political issue advertisements will now be allowed to run on the streaming platform Hulu.
On Wednesday, Axios reported that Disney told the outlet candidate advertisements would also be allowed on the platform.
Axios noted Hulu’s advertisement guidelines would now align with those used for Disney’s cable networks, including ESPN and FX.
Still, the company explained it has the right to ask clients to edit the advertisements.
“After a thorough review of ad policies across its linear networks and streaming platforms over the last few months, Disney is now aligning Hulu’s political advertising policies to be consistent with the Company’s general entertainment and sports cable networks and ESPN+,” Disney said.
The statement continued, “Hulu will now accept candidate and issue advertisements covering a wide spectrum of policy positions, but reserves the right to request edits or alternative creative, in alignment with industry standards.”
The announcement comes just days after Democrats expressed frustration with the streaming service for refusing to run advertisements on issues such as abortions and guns, as IJR reported.
Christie Roberts, Tim Persico, and Noam Lee, the directors of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Democratic Governors Association expressed their frustration in a statement.
“Hulu’s censorship of the truth is outrageous, offensive, and another step down a dangerous path for our country,” they said in the statement.
It continued, “Voters have the right to know the facts about MAGA Republicans’ agenda on issues like abortion — and Hulu is doing a huge disservice to the American people by blocking voters from learning the truth about the GOP record or denying these issues from even being discussed.”
Additionally, Suraj Patel, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New York City, wrote to Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Hulu President Joe Earley addressing a policy saying the topics in one of his advertisements were considered too “sensitive” for the platform.
“To not discuss these topics in my campaign ad is to not address the most important issues facing the United States,” Patel wrote.
He added, “Your ban on mobilization messaging has a perverse effect on Democracy.”
Disney has faced a wave of criticism this year over its response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
In March, Chapek issued an apology to the company’s employees for night speaking out against the bill sooner.
“You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry,” Chapek said in a memo.
