Popular internet media company Buzzfeed has pulled out of an advertising deal for US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying the controversial tycoon is "hazardous to our health."
In a memo sent to Buzzfeed employees, the site's founder Jonah Peretti likened Mr Trump's candidacy to cigarette smoking.
"We don't run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won't accept Trump ads for the exact same reason," he wrote.
Mr Peretti argued that the Trump campaign was "directly opposed to the freedoms of our employees in the United States and around the world and in some cases, such as his proposed ban on international travel for Muslims, would make it impossible for our employees to do their jobs."
According to political news site Politico, the ad deal had been worth $1.3 million. Buzzfeed insisted its political coverage would not be affected by the business decision.
