Following her partnership with department store J.C. Penney, announced last week, US talk show host and TV star Ellen DeGeneres has received a backlash from conservative group OneMillionMoms.com, who are calling for her to be replaced by a straight representative, according to Radar Online.
A project of the American Family Association, OneMillionMoms.com are quoted on their website as saying ‘Funny that J.C. Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families… Degeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of J.C. Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there… Unless J.C. Penney decides to be neutral in the culture war, then their brand transformation will be unsuccessful.”
The website lists phone numbers for J.C. Penney and called on it’s members to petition against Ellen as the spokesperson for the chain department store.
However LGBT organisation GLAAD branded the association a ‘hate group’ and offered their support to Ellen. In a statement to Radar Online, GLAAD wrote ‘It’s clear that a vast majority of Americans today support Ellen as well as their LGBT friends and family members.”Selecting an out performer who has inspired and entertained millions, is not only a smart business practice, but a reflection of how LGBT Americans today are an integral and valued part of the fabric of our culture.’
J.C. Penney’s company CEO, former Apple executive Ron Johnson agreed, telling the Associated Press: ‘I think Ellen is someone we all trust. She’s lovable, likable, honest and funny, but at her soul, we trust her.’
