Ellen DeGeneres' JC Penney Partnership Slammed By Anti-Gay Group One Million Moms

Ellen DeGeneres' new gig as a spokeswoman for JC Penney is just one component in the retail brand's planned makeover, but not everyone is thrilled by the choice.

OneMillionMoms.com, a division of the American Family Association, is now calling for DeGeneres to be replaced by the Texas-based chain because she is a lesbian, Towleroad and other media outlets are reporting.

"Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families," the group writes on its website. "DeGeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there. The small percentage of customers they are attempting to satisfy will not offset their loss in sales."

The group's statement concludes: "By jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon, JC Penney is attempting to gain a new target market and in the process will lose customers with traditional values that have been faithful to them over all these years."

Interestingly, comments on the group's Facebook page indicate that not everyone is upset over DeGeneres' new role. "I certainly don't agree with Ellen's lifestyle," one user wrote. "However, I won't stop shopping at [JC Penney] just because she's the spokesperson. That's so silly."

Wrote another: "Being gay is only a part of who she is. Her comedy is not mean but it can still bring you to tears with laughter. She is generous with her blessings and is modest in her dress and behavior. She does not hide who she truly is. If these are traits to be judged poorly by, I am done."

The company's CEO, former Apple executive Ron Johnson, explained why the company chose Degeneres to 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," he said. So far, Johnson and other officials for the retail chain have yet to comment on the protests.

Meanwhile, DeGeneres, who reportedly worked at a Louisiana-based JC Penney in the 1970s, said she was excited to be back. "They have an incredible vision for the future and are completely re-inventing themselves to become America's favorite store," she said in a statement. "And most importantly, I'm gonna get my employee discount again. Hello new pillows!"

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Comments

[happyman01212]

08:10 PM on 05/06/2012

I have no problem with a persons sexual preference myself. I do however think that when a company picks a person to represent it, it should pick someone that can be a role model to younger people. As far as Ellen I do not think she fits this role. Several years back I wrote Ellen because they way she sounded on her show was like someone that you can write and trust, at least for a response back. About a year ago my daughter had written her also and she never received a response back. I know that these celebrities receive a lot of fan mail and other types of correspondence but you think that you could get at least some type of reply.

As far as JC Penny I think they are looking for an answer but in the wrong place. Let’s leave the celebrities alone and go with real people for a change. Ask the consumers what they want, who they want. I would be willing to give honest non-biased feedback.

As far as boycotting I am for it. There are too many businesses out there just handing us garbage at high prices and we take it because we have too. People need to bond together and do things such as boycotting. We have taken what has been handed to us for a long time and need to make things right. Way to go One Million Moms, way to go American Family Association.

[Foxfiredesigns]

11:45 AM on 05/05/2012

You tell them Ally. I happen to love Ellen and did from years ago when I saw her first show. She's that silly innocent, childlike humor that cracks us up and increases the seratonin in your brain and makes us happy. It's familiar and we relate to it. J C Penney is lucky to have her, and although I never shopped there too much, I will now, in support of their choice in Ellen and also to support Ellen. I was raised in a family that always had gay hairdressers, and we loved them.They were loving and kind and were always invited to family functions. Gay didn't matter. Nice mattered. Here's a message to the Million "Mothers?": You are not what God intended.

[Ally Ouimette]

04:24 AM on 04/18/2012

You are bullying. It don't matter how you word it especially with your "god". I may not believe in him or follow him but I know he taught you guys better then to judge people for WHO THEY ARE. Ellen is a wonderful woman and I will shop at JcPennys more often if they KEEP HER ON. Yea I said it. Why? Cause I'm not full of hate like you so called moms. That'd be like someone judging you and taking you off the show cause you're a CHRISTIAN. How would you feel being hated by numerous of people cause you believe in god?? Put yourself in her shoes. She did nothing wrong but be herself and I praise her for that. When I was being raised by my MOM, she taught me to never judge a book by its cover, to like them for who they are. I am grateful I had my mother growing up and not you bigoted hateful people. If you were my mother, telling me not to be friends with someone cause they were gay, I'd shoot myself in the face before listening to another minute of your hatred. I think Ellen is a great spokesperson and she actually made the commercials more fun. I think she should be in them more often. I hope "god" pays you "mothers" a visit one day.

[Ally Ouimette]

04:12 AM on 04/18/2012

The fact that you guys are judging her on who she prefers in a relationship is RIDICULOUS! She is a human being just like the rest of us. Everyone should be allowed to love whoever they want to love. Ellen is a wonderful down to earth woman and the fact that she is being shunned cause of her sexual preference is low. BEYOND low. I really hope you guys one day open your mind and stop being so stuck up and judgmental. Is this how you raise your kids? To judge people for what they do? Some role models of mothers.

[Internet Privacy Hah]

12:59 AM on 02/09/2012

JC Penny, you did the right thing standing by Ellen. If you're watching what is currently going down with Susan G. Koman and Planned Parenthood, if you had dropped Ellen, the repercussions would have been horrendous for you.

You're right, Ellen is someone we can trust.

[helenwheels74]

10:15 PM on 02/08/2012

omm says they want jc penney to drop ellen because they should 'be neutral in the culture wars'. discriminating against lesbians is NOT being neutral, it's singling someone out to be excluded, rejected and ostricized from society based on one harmless aspect of their existence. that's bullying, plain and simple. these people had better watch out... i'd bet anything that they're making their 'god' pretty darn mad.

[DanielRomens]

10:15 PM on 02/08/2012

The company didn't hire Degeneres because she's pro-gay, they hire her because she is popular and has broad appeal.

Anger by these kinds of groups only serves to make them more comical.

[GLAMAZONIA]

09:41 PM on 02/08/2012

https://www.facebook.com/pages/GLBT-Shop-A-Thon-at-JC-Penney/106372782822702

LGBT & friends: Let's go shopping to say, "Thank you" to JCP for doing the right thing.

T-shirts and crew socks, as Ellen mentions in her video.

Please 'like' and share this link, and post photos of your purchases!

[bessielil]

08:44 PM on 02/08/2012

They picked her because she is Ellen, not because she is gay.
She's sweet, gentle, and open hearted. Isn't that the Middle American ideal?

[mdossett01]

08:35 PM on 02/08/2012

Disgusting. The bigotry and hatred of these people is astounding. So much for "all men/women are created equal."

[torgman3]

06:15 PM on 02/08/2012

"The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there" -- Don's speak for my family, American Facsist Association. I had to deal with these pryqs when I worked in a bookstore because of some book we carried. I knew who they weer when they came into the sore and said, "Can you show me where I can find you pronography?"

[alexgandalf1]

05:41 PM on 02/08/2012

That 'Mom's' could even think like this shakes me to my core with sadness. If not for unconditional love, (as that of what a mothers should be), how could any child develop into a wonderful human-being. Through barbarianism, slavery, holocaust and the dreadful likes, have we STILL not yet understood that? ALL, with not a single exception in this whole world, of us are HUMAN 'BEINGS". Our orientation toward anything in this physical world can or should never ever super cede that truth. A good person is a good person. These's 'Mom's' don't sound like 'nice people at all. Grateful my mom was who she was. Thanks, from a 'straight' lol, Christian, heart sobbing Mom. Pulling out my JCP card. Here I come. CHARGE!!!!!!

[Lynnsey Sitter]

03:55 PM on 02/08/2012

Be careful when you clutch your pearls, One Million Moms...one day you might just choke yourself.

I wonder if it's terribly tiring being offended by everything...

[Sophist FCD]

03:55 PM on 02/08/2012

"OneMillionMoms.com, a division of the American Family Association, is now calling for DeGeneres to be replaced by the Texas-based chain because she is a lesbian, Towleroad and other media outlets are reporting."

Yeah, good luck with that. Ellen is one of the most benign, inoffensive, nonthreatening people in show business. Even if you don't particularly care for her oeuvre, you have to work REALLY hard to find her personally offensive. She's like a female Tom Hanks.

[keywindup]

10:34 AM on 02/08/2012

JC Penny didnt pick Ellen for a spokesperson because she is gay. What kind of example is that for a mom to set?
Change the name from "One Million Moms" to "A Few Hateful Moms.