The retail company Kohls received significant criticism after releasing a onesie for infants with an LGBT theme. Some conservatives online called for a boycott of the company over the clothing for babies as young as three months.
The onesie features a group of people marching with an updated LGBT pride flag.
The online listing was shared by conservative online personality Benny Johnson.
Why is Kohl’s selling “Pride Merch” for 3 month old babies? pic.twitter.com/e2ErOzwYOT
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 28, 2023
Another item featured on the retailer’s website is a shirt in adult and children’s sizes with a rainbow and the words “be proud.”
The retailer is the latest in a number of recent marketing controversies.
The first was beer giant Bud Light, who announced a partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The decision was announced on social media, which sparked a significant backlash among consumers.
Bud Light sales have fallen by more than 25% since the start of the boycott. In addition, other brands owned by Bud Light’s parent Anheuser-Busch have also seen a significant retreat in sales.
Not long after the Mulvaney announcement, Miller Lite launched a feminist-themed ad campaign that mocked earlier beer ads that featured scantily-clad women.
The expletive-laden commercial asks rhetorically how the beer industry paid “homage to the founding mothers of beer?”
The other major retailer facing consumer ire is Target. The retail chain recently withdrew parts of its LGBT-related items, including occult-themed merchandise. Some were part of the retailer’s “Pride collection.”
The public protest over the products led to an approximately 14% drop in Target’s stock, leading to the company losing $9 billion in value.
Target announced that it would remove some of the items at the center of the controversy.
However, the move then caused LGBT groups to then call for a boycott of the retailer.
A National Black Justice Coalition spokesperson said that the group felt that Target’s actions were “beyond disappointing.” The group said that the company was “caving to violent political extremists and betraying its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.”
The group said that this was “pride pimping, which is beyond problematic.”
