Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame is defending Walmart’s recent decision to spend more money in order to sell more products that are made in America in their stores. Rowe narrates a new ad for Walmart called “I Am Factory,” that premiered during the Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony. The ad was met with much skepticism, and this past weekend the former Dirty Jobs host responded on his Facebook page to the naysayers.

“It’s a hell of a thing when someone you really don’t like suddenly does something that you actually agree with,” Rowe wrote. “At base, I think that’s what’s happening here. A lot of people who have fallen in love with hating Walmart are now wrestling with what the shrinks call ‘cognitive dissonance.’ Regarding a 250 billion dollar investment in American manufacturing, the choices are simple – a) continue to condemn them for whatever you like to condemn them for, b) offer support and encouragement, or, c) shoot the messenger.”

“I’m not a spokesman for Walmart. I narrated a very specific commercial because I’m a fan of what Walmart is trying to accomplish with this particular initiative. In the interest of full disclosure though, I really do shop there. In fact, for nearly ten years, Walmart was my first stop whenever Dirty Jobs came to town,” he added.

Mike Rowe’s all around best means of addressing the backlash he has received over this ad was done in true Dirty Jobs style.

Rowe believes that what Walmart is doing will benefit the country as a whole.

“Dozens of American factories are going to reopen all over the country,” he wrote in his and Walmart’s defense. “Millions of dollars will pour straight into local economies, and hundreds of thousands of new manufacturing positions will need to be filled. … Isn’t this an initiative we can all get behind?”

Walmart has confirmed that Mike Rowe’s defense of the company is of his own doing.

Do you think Rowe’s defense of Walmart is based on actions the company will actually take? What will those naysayers have to complain about then?

Image via Wikimedia Commons