Latest news with #PrideCollection
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BarkBox CEO apologizes for leaked message exposing paused Pride ads — but they're still paused
BarkBox's CEO is "deeply sorry" for a leaked message that revealed the company's plans to forgo advertising for its LGBTQ+ Pride collection — but they appear to have followed through on those plans. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The dog product subscription service came under fire earlier this week after a message from an employee was shared on social media, exposing the company's intentions to "pause all paid ads and lifestyle marketing pushes for the Pride kit effective immediately." The author referred to LGBTQ+ existence as "another politically charged symbol," comparing it to being a supporter of Donald Trump. "While celebrating Pride is something we may value, we need to acknowledge that the current climate makes this promotion feel more like a political statement than a universally joyful moment for all dog people," the message reads. "If we wouldn't feel comfortable running a promotion centered around another politically charged symbol (like a MAGA-themed product), it's worth asking whether this is the right moment to run this particular campaign." "Right now, pushing this promo risks unintentionally sending the message that 'we're not for you' to a large portion of our audience," the author concluded. After backlash online — including users unsubscribing and threatening boycotts — CEO Matt Meeker posted a statement on BarkBox's Instagram apologizing for the message. He insisted that "the Pride Collection is still available" and that the company has "no plans to remove them," but did not address the advertising roll back. "I apologize. A few days go, an internal message from a BARK team member was released on social media," Meeker wrote. "The message was disrespectful and hurtful to the LGBTQIA+ community, and as the CEO of BARK, I'm responsible for that. I do not agree with the content of the message. It wasn't good, it doesn't reflect our values, and I'm deeply sorry that it happened." Meeker added that instead of donating a portion of the profits from the Pride Collection to a "worthy organization," BarkBox would donate "100 percent of the revenue" this year. As of publishing, the Pride Collection does not appear on BarkBox's home page, nor is it listed under the website's "Monthly Themes" tab. There are no posts advertising the collection on the same company Instagram page that Meeker issued his apology on. A spokesperson for BarkBox told The Advocate that the Pride Collection has been advertised on the website "in the yellow banner at the top of the page." An Internet Archive snapshot of the website from yesterday shows no banner, suggesting it was added in the past 24 hours. Collections BarkBox seemingly considers not "politically charged" include cannabis leaf merchandise for the 420 holiday, a "fleshlight" pig in a blanket toy, and a Harry Potter collection — when writer J.K. Rowling has been using her personal profits to fund legal cases tat restricted the rights of transgender people.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Target employees reveal embarrassing Pride collection mistake amid backlash
Target knew this year's Pride collection would be under the microscope. Still, the company made a glaring misstep: several self-identified employees have shared photos of a slip-up on the Pride clothing's hang tags. 'body copy tincidunt ut lorem ipsum,' the tags say. 'dolor sit amet, consectet adipiscing elit, sed diam ad nonummy nibh...' If that sounds like gibberish, that's because it is. The sentences are frequently-used placeholder text for graphic designers and publishers looking to test out different fonts. Reddit users pointed out that Target clearly forgot to finish the graphics on a heavily scrutinized collection. 'They didn't finish editing the tags on the Pride merch,' one staffer pointed out. It looks like the incorrect tags impacted clothing items across the lineup. Pictures show placeholder text on tags for products like the 'adult athletic pant' and the 'adult woven top.' 'These kinds of mistakes do occasionally happen, but this clearly slipped through a lot of nets,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, told Several self-identified Target employees have posted pictures of the company's Pride collection hang tags on Reddit 'It's very sloppy for a product range that is supposed to be meaningful and significant.' Saunders said the company might soon be sending new hang tags to stores to swap out the mistake. But some shoppers, who have already felt spurned by the brand's reversal on diversity and inclusion policies, said the mistake was 'tone deaf.' 'Someone said it was Pride in the closet,' one shopper said. Another added: 'I swear this will end up on some random Facebook page as evidence of the Pride merch being "demonic."' Others joked that the tags would inspire more Queer art. 'Lorem Ipsum is actually my drag name,' one shopper chided. Another added: 'Wow, they really put their heart and soul into this, didn't they?' Target has been at the center of several culture war issues - in 2023, the CEO had to move product because right-wing activists allegedly called in bomb threats Employees have been sounding off on Target this year as frustration about the company's negative headlines mounts 'These kinds of mistakes do occasionally happen, but this clearly slipped through a lot of nets,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, told 'We're aware of the error that originated with our vendor and are working to address the issue,' a Target spokesperson said in a statement to For years, the company has been caught in the middle of culture war fights. The anger largely started with violent frustration over the Pride collection. In 2023, conservative backlash started against the company when activists called out a bathing suit designed for trans swimmers. Brian Cornell, the company's CEO, said anti-LGBT activists threatened store employees and placed bomb threats in response to the product. He responded by moving the merchandise to the back of nationwide stores. The right-wing anger triggered profit problems for the brand: Target said sales dropped 5.4 percent in the quarter after the backlash. In January of this year, the company cancelled a three-year program meant to diversify its leadership team, angering some shoppers on the left. Shoppers were closely watching this year's Pride collection to see if Target would start leaning on either political direction The decision has spawned a new wave of customer boycotts, with liberal shoppers swearing off the brand. Sales for the company fell 2.8 percent to $23.85 billion in the quarter, the brand announced earlier this month. Employees have been worried the drop in profits and consistent negative headlines impacting the stores will start resulting in job losses and store closures. The company has not shut down a store since 2023, and didn't confirm if it was planning any major cuts. Meanwhile, shoppers have been using this Pride collection as a litmus test to see whether Target would be capitulating to either side in the culture war.
National Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canadian drag queen superstar Brooke Lynn Hytes debuts Pride collection with Joe Fresh
The launch: Joe Fresh Pride Collection. Article content What to know about it: Canadian drag queen and TV personality Brooke Lynn Hytes is bringing Pride to Joe Fresh with a limited-edition collection. Article content Hytes collaborated with the Canadian fashion brand to co-design a collection of gender-free T-shirts, as well as a tank top and sunglasses. Most pieces are available in adult and kids sizes, as well as toddler and baby. Article content The celebratory designs feature colourful illustrations of hearts and rainbows, meant to underscore 'self-expression and leading with your heart,' according to the brand. Article content Article content 'Drag has allowed me to explore all sides of who I am,' Hytes, who is the host of Canada's Drag Race, says of the inspiration. 'It's a celebration, a statement and an act of fearless self expression.' A portion of the proceeds, up to a total of $25,000, from the sale of the Pride collection designs will be donated to Pflag Canada. The national charitable organization provides 'peer support, education, and advocacy for families and allies of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.' Article content June is Pride Month around the world, with many businesses and organizations celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA community during this time. Toronto's Pride event, which happens this year June 26-29 is said to be among the largest Pride celebrations in North America. Vancouver's Pride events happen in August. Article content 'Supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community isn't just for June. Show up in March, September and every month in between,' Hytes says. Article content Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brooke Lynn Hytes (@bhytes) Article content
Phone Arena
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Phone Arena
Apple's 2025 Pride Collection is official — and each Watch band is one-of-a-kind
Apple has now announced this year's themed LGBTQ+ collection in time for Pride Month (June). The 2025 Pride Collection comes with a Pride Edition Sports Band for the Apple Watch, as well as new wallpapers for Apple Watches, iPhones, and iPads. The Apple Watch strap comes with rainbow stripes that are different in shape and size. Each stripe is assembled by hand and then compression-molded together, which creates striking varieties. This pretty much means that each band is slightly different than the others: no two bands are exactly alike. According to Apple, this is done to underline and reflect the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Edition Sport Band is assembled by hand from individual stripes. | Image Credit - Apple The Apple Watch Pride edition band is exclusive to buyers from the United States. It is already available to order from the Apple Store, and is currently for sale in offline stores as well. The Watch band is priced at $49, and comes in a variety of sizes: 40, 42, and 46mm. You can choose between S/M and M/L lengths, standard for Apple Watch bands. Meanwhile, there's also a new watch face dubbed "Pride Harmony". The watch face complements the new bands and the entire Pride edition. With the upcoming software update that is now rolling out, Apple plans to bring a similar wallpaper design for iPhones and iPads. The new wallpaper is available on all supported devices with watchOS 11.5, iOS 18.5, and iPadOS 18.5. The new Apple Watch face can be downloaded through the Apple Watch app, the Apple Store app, or directly at It was all the way back in 2017 that Apple started this tradition with an official Pride-inspired Apple Watch band that the Cupertino company announced during WWDC 2017. Each year, Apple is bringing a collection like this to support the LGBTQ+ community, and each collection brings something slightly new, like new added colors or different designs.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Target stores are being sued by Florida. Why DEI is the reason
Florida's new attorney general James Uthmeier is going after Target for its Pride merchandise and displays, alleging in a class-action lawsuit filed Thursday that the national retailer "knowingly misled and defrauded" investors by concealing the risks of its "radical LGBTQ activism," according to a release. Last year, Target's Pride Collection triggered backlash and boycotts from conservatives and a run of people posting videos of themselves knocking over displays and confronting employees before the company pulled some of the items, saying they did it to protect the safety of their staff. The LGBTQ-themed merchandise included cheerful, affirmative statements on clothing, sandals, pins, mugs and glasses along with the most controversial item, "tuck-friendly" swimwear for trans women. The lawsuit alleges that due to the backlash, Target's stock price plummeted $10 billion in market value in 10 days and $25 billion in shareholder value over six months, saying it was the Minneapolis-based retailer's "longest losing streak in 23 years." 'Corporations that push radical leftist ideology at the expense of financial returns jeopardize the retirement security of Florida's first responders and teachers," Uthmeier said. "My office will stridently pursue corporate reform so that companies get back to the business of doing business — not offensive political theatre. We appreciate America First Legal's assistance in the fight to keep Florida's investments safe.' Target's share price is currently down more than 50% from its peak in November 2021, Reuters reported. In an earnings call in August 2023, Target executives admitted that the backlash to its Pride line was a 'signal for us to pause, adapt and learn,' but Neil Saunders, managing director for retail at analytics company GlobalData, told the Washington Post that rising inflation was also an issue and the company's sales were "on a downward slope long before Pride became an issue." Uthmeier and private attorneys filed the 163-page lawsuit in federal court in Fort Myers on behalf of the State Board of Administration, the agency that manages Florida's massive pension fund. The lawsuit is one of at least three similar cases against Target in Florida, including one a Florida ruled in December could go forward. The Minneapolis-based retailer has said in court papers that it repeatedly warned investors about the risk of consumer boycotts from its social and environmental initiatives. Along with the lawsuits, Target is now facing backlash from a different direction. The company announced it was ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program in January just a few days after President Donald Trump issued executive orders eliminating DEI in the federal government. But after spending years building up its reputation as a leader in LGBTQ issues — publicly supporting gay marriage before it was legal, allowing transgender employees to choose their bathrooms — and minority hiring initiatives, many customers are feeling betrayed. Even the daughters of one of the company's co-founders, Anne and Lucy Dayton, called the DEI rollback a "betrayal" in a letter to the Los Angeles Times. "By cowering, Target and others are undermining the very principles that have made their companies a success," they said. Black faith leaders have called on their congregations to join a 40-day boycott of Target, and consumers on social media have been calling for a national boycott of specific retailers, including Target, and a complete consumer spending blackout on Feb. 28 to protest those retailers from backing up on their DEI programs. Before the 2023 backlash, Target celebrated LGBTQ Pride Month every year for a decade with more than 2,000 products including colorful, affirmative clothing, books and furnishings for adults and children. Some of 2023's items included: Planters labeled "Grow at Your Own Pace" A "Bodies Aren't Binary" scented candle A "Queer All Year" wall calendar Tote bags, pet hoodies, socks, rainbow sandals, welcome mats, gingerbread houses "Cheers Queers" drinking glasses Mugs that say, "Gender Fluid" and "Your Story Matters" Greeting cards that say "Glad You Came Out" and "I'm Happy That You're Queer" "Tuck-friendly" swimwear designed for trans women Some of the products were labeled as "Thoughtfully fit on multiple body types and gender expressions." The tuck-friendly swimwear received the most derision. Critics also incorrectly claimed that Target was selling Satanic-themed shirts and pins. The brand Abprellen sold such items, but they were never among the Abprellen items featured by Target. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Target DEI, Pride lawsuit in Florida: Some customers feel betrayed
