Tucker Carlson Exits Zyn Brand Amid Political Conflicts, Yet GOP Support Persists
This article has been updated to include additional details.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who previously endorsed Zyn nicotine pouches alongside popular young Youtubers, is now distancing himself from the brand due to alleged political discrepancies.
During an interview with the clothing and content brand Old Row, Carlson stated he is “going through a period of transition” concerning his usage of nicotine pouches.
“I’m embarrassed to admit it, but it’s produced by a giant corporation that makes substantial donations to Kamala Harris. Therefore, I will no longer support that brand,” Carlson remarked. “While it may be acceptable for your girlfriend or something, I don’t think men should use that brand. It starts with a ‘Z,'” he added.
Philip Morris International, which owns Zyn, told YSL News that it does not make political donations to presidential campaigns.
However, its subsidiary, Swedish Match North America, which manages Zyn, has a political action committee that has spent over $142,000 on this election cycle up until August 31, according to a campaign finance analysis by the nonpartisan organization OpenSecrets. The findings reveal that 70% of contributions to federal candidates went to Republicans, while 30% went to Democrats—excluding Harris and Donald Trump. The disparity was smaller for contributions to parties or PACs, but Swedish Match still favored Republican groups.
Some PMI and subsidiary employees have also contributed to Trump, Harris, or their associated party PACs, according to data from the Federal Election Commission.
From Zyn Fan to Brand Creator: Carlson Launches His Own ‘Alp Nicotine Pouches’
Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., raised concerns over Zyn, a nicotine pouch designed as a safer alternative for tobacco users, indicating it has become a troubling trend among teenagers.
This led to backlash from Republicans such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who even suggested a “Zynsurrection.”
(PMI referenced a recent FDA survey indicating that youth usage of nicotine pouches remains low.)
Now, Carlson has stepped back from his intense support of Zyn and has announced plans to launch his own line of Alp Nicotine Pouches.
A website promoting Alp Nicotine Pouches states, “The all-new nicotine pouch by Tucker Carlson. ALP satisfies and frees your mind. At ALP, we believe in a better time.”
“It’s unfortunate that Mr. Carlson wants to politicize ZYN to advance his own business ambitions,” a spokesperson for PMI commented. Neither Carlson nor his representatives from Alp have replied to YSL News’s inquiry.
Carlson, previously a host on Fox News, ended his stint with the network after a $787.5 million settlement in a defamation case involving Dominion Voting Systems. He attempted to stream his content on X before launching his own Tucker Carlson Network streaming platform, which currently has a merchandise partnership with Old Row.