Steinem in real life (l) and the Lands’ End photoshop ad (r)
Wisconsin-based retailer Lands’ End is apologizing to customers for featuring an interview with feminist and political activist Gloria Steinem in its spring catalog and has removed references to her from its website.
ABC News reports that the company on Tuesday removed a feature on Steinem from its website after customers complained about her support for abortion rights. The retailer on Wednesday issued an apology after offended customers complained, including by flooding the company’s Facebook page with hundreds of comments and vows to stop shopping the stores.
At least two private religious schools have weighed in, saying they plan to stop purchasing uniforms from Lands’ End and are urging others to do the same. In a letter to the company, Missouri College of the Ozarks administrator Sue Head said its decision to feature a “well-known abortion activist” helped lead to the school’s decision to shop elsewhere. Head said the college has spent more than $150,000 in the company’s uniform division.
“We understand that some of our customers were offended by the inclusion of an interview in a recent catalog with Gloria Steinem on her quest for women’s equality,” the company said in a statement. “We thought it was a good idea and we heard from our customers that, for different reasons, it wasn’t.”
Lands’ End CEO Federica Marchionni
Steinem had been interviewed by company CEO Federica Marchionni for the Lands’ End “Legend Series,” which features people “who have made a difference in both their respective industries and the world at large,” according to the company. “Our goal was to feature individuals with different interests and backgrounds that have made a difference for our new Legends Series, not to take any political or religious stance,” the statement said.
Steinem: “The woman who paved the way”
Not to take any political stance? BALONEY.
All Ms. Marchionni had to do was Google Steinem to find out about the pro-abort’s position on everything that is political in her whacky, feminist world. Then again, I’m pretty sure that Ms. Marchionni knows all about Steinem.
I’m just surprised that the CEO didn’t use this picture on their website:
DCG