Staff Reports
Kohl's is the most recent example of an organization that caters to the Woke audience and goes too far. Customers have begun to criticize the department store for selling infant onesies with the LGBTQ+ pride flag because they want to see the company refuse to support the spread of liberal ideology. The new action follows an almost fifty percent decline in Kohl's stock in 2022. As a result of promoting the liberal LGBTQ+ agenda, Kohl's now confronts the same backlash as Bud Light and Target.
Why not? https://t.co/NkHCRFxVoT
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) May 30, 2023
This clothing was created specifically for Pride Month in June, but it appears that Kohl's misread the market. Users of social media expressed their dissatisfaction with the corporation, resulting in a wave of negative feedback. One Twitter account summed up the sentiment: "Looks like another business needs Bud-lighting!"
Another Company needing Bud-lighting! https://t.co/IiMNt4MRTd
— Texas Papa Bear Hayes 🇺🇸🇺🇸✝️✝️ (@bear_hayes) May 29, 2023
It’s been going on for years. I see this stuff in every store I go to. Michael’s, JoAnn’s, Macy’s, cvs, kohl’s, target, everywhere. Except hobby lobby. Thankfully, they don’t carry that kind of merch.
— (F)ourth of (J)uly (B)irthday 😉 (#FJB) 🇺🇸𝕏 (@doubleAbdalla90) May 29, 2023
Looks like Kohl’s didn’t learn a thing from Bud Lite and Target pic.twitter.com/qRzlmepW4B
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 28, 2023
Why is Kohl’s selling “Pride Merch” for 3 month old babies? pic.twitter.com/e2ErOzwYOT
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 28, 2023
Benny Johnson, a conservative influencer, questioned on Twitter why Kohl's would offer 'Pride Merch' for infants as young as three months. It is a perfectly valid query to which Kohl's has not yet responded.
The controversy did not end with social media backlash; it gained momentum when the popular Twitter account 'End Wokeness' condemned the onesies, emphasizing that Kohl's failed to learn from Bud Light and Target's backlash and therefore continues to pander mindlessly to the liberal ideology. It spread further after the YouTuber 'Twisted Luck Truth' uploaded a video criticizing Kohl's, which was later withdrawn from TikTok. Among the featured items was a T-shirt with the message "BELONG BELIEVE BE PROUD" and a silhouette of Mickey Mouse, which is not only grossly inappropriate but also demonstrates a reckless disregard for traditional family values.
Critics interpret this controversy as an extension of Woke ideology, as it coincides with ongoing attempts to boycott various brands that have demonstrated support for the LGBTQ+ community. Target and Bud Light recently encountered market value declines of nearly $10 billion and $16 billion, respectively, as a result of negative reactions to their respective campaigns.
It is time for businesses to realize that pandering to the ideology of the far left not only harms their bottom line but also offends a substantial portion of their customer base. With the stock price falling, Kohl's should be aware of what its consumers want and act accordingly. Instead of insensitively pushing the LGBTQ+ agenda, they should cater to the requirements of traditional families, who provide the majority of their revenue.
