Facing the growing possibility of customer backlash Delta Airlines and Bank of America have ended their corporate sponsorship of a New York play portraying of Julius Caesar as a Donald Trump, who gets knifed to death on stage in the performance.

U.S. media, journalists and left-wing activists are furious at their decision to end funding. Meanwhile, The New York Times, another corporate sponsor, remains proud in their support for political violence.

NEW YORK – Delta Air Lines and Bank of America have announced that they are pulling their sponsorship of a Manhattan-based theater company’s portrayal of Julius Caesar as a Donald Trump look-alike in a business suit who gets knifed to death on stage.

Atlanta-based Delta released a statement on Sunday saying it was pulling its sponsorship from The Public Theater “effective immediately.” “No matter what your political stance may be, the graphic staging of Julius Caesar at this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park does not reflect Delta Air Lines’ values,” the statement said. “Their artistic and creative direction crossed the line on the standards of good taste.” Later Sunday night, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America said it was withdrawing its funding for the production. “The Public Theater chose to present Julius Caesar in such a way that was intended to provoke and offend,” the bank said in a tweet. “Had this intention been made known to us, we would have decided not to sponsor it.” Performances at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater began in late May, just days before comedian Kathy Griffin was widely condemned for posing for a photograph in which she gripped a bloodied rendering of Trump’s head. (read more)