Ellen Embroiled In JC Penney Controversy
REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniJ.C. Penney is standing by its decision to make openly gay talk show host Ellen DeGeneres its new spokeswoman despite protests from a parent group.
The group called One Million Moms accuses the retailer of “jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon” after DeGeneres was announced as the new J.C. Penney spokeswoman last week.
The comedian responded to the group on her show Wednesday.
“This organization doesn’t think I should be the spokesperson because I am gay,” she said. “So for those of you tuning in for the first time, I’m gay. I hope you were sitting down. … So they wanted to get me fired, and I’m proud and happy to say that J.C. Penney stuck by their decision to make me their spokesperson.”
In a statement last week, J.C. Penney said it stands behind the partnership.
On Thursday’s “CBS This Morning,” J.C. Penney chief executive officer Ron Johnson said the company “shares the same values” as DeGeneres and that the decision to have her as a spokesperson was a “no-brainer.”
In a surprise move, Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly also came out in support of DeGeneres, likening the boycott to a witch hunt.
What is the difference between the McCarthy era of the 50s and the Million Moms saying, Hey, J.C. Penney and all you other stores, dont you hire gay people. Dont you dare. Whats the difference? OReilly said on his show Tuesday night.
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