Ellen DeGeneres is shown in a Western outfit in a J.C. Penney commercial that aired during the Oscars — otherwise known as the gay Super Bowl — on Sunday, Feb. 26. The ad was one of five that premiered during the awards for the company’s new ‘Fair and Square’ pricing campaign.
One Million Moms announced this week that the group is ditching the J.C. Penney boycott to focus on other matters.
The group, affiliated with the American Family Association and considered an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, began the boycott shortly after the Plano-based company announced lesbian talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres would be its new spokeswoman. One Million Moms said Ellen’s being gay meant she did not stand for traditional values.
J.C. Penney stood firm in their support for DeGeneres and aired five commercials featuring her during the Oscars Feb. 26 to kick off the company’s new pricing campaign.
In response to the boycott, the Facebook group “1 Million People Who Support Ellen for JC Penney” was created and quickly garnered more than 198,000 likes. The One Million Moms Facebook page has slightly more than 45,000.
OMM Director Monica Cole told One News Now this week that while the boycott has ended, the group still received responses from many people that would not shop at J.C. Penney while DeGeneres represents the company:
“But we have heard back from so many of our members,” she shares. “We have heard back from men and women – not just moms – saying they will no longer shop there at JC Penney, as long as Ellen DeGeneres is their spokesperson.”
Cole believes OneMillionMoms has done its job by educating members about the retailer and urging them to take their business elsewhere. She says only time will tell how business goes for JC Penney.
“Everyone works hard for their money, and they want to spend their money with companies that have the same values as them,” Cole explains. “And JC Penney stated that Ellen DeGeneres shares the same values that they do. So obviously, it’s not the same as Christians or conservatives, which is unfortunate [because] JC Penney was founded by a Christian man.”
Meanwhile, the OMM director finds it interesting that Fitch Ratings, a global agency, recently downgraded JC Penney’s credit rating to “junk.”
OMM is now targeting Toys ‘R Us for selling Archie comics with a gay marriage featured on the cover. The comics have reportedly sold out.
“Unfortunately, children are now being exposed to same-sex marriage in a toy store. This is the last place a parent would expect to be confronted with questions from their children on topics that are too complicated for them to understand,” OMM writes on its website. “A trip to the toy store turns into a premature discussion on sexual orientation and is completely uncalled for. Toys ‘R’ Us should be more responsible in the products they carry.”
hey Dallas, they are not a “hate” group, if you classify them as a “hate” group then you must classify the gay and lesbian groups as “hate” groups for their efforts to vilify anyone who disagrees with them. this country is made up of differences of opinion. the one million moms have their opinion and should be heard, just like gay and lesbians should be heard.
Robin, We don’t classify hate groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center investigates organizations and does the classifications. If you care to not shop at JCPenney because a lesbian is their spokesperson, feel free.
Anti-equality boycotters are often very deceptive!
Dear Christo-fascists: I sincerely apologize for being intolerant of your intolerant views. Feel free to tell me that I’m a second-class citizen and don’t deserve the same rights as you. HA HA HA.
Hey moms–all one million of you: do you not have anything better to do with your time than this? Just asking.