J.C. Penney CEO on Ellen DeGeneres controversy

CBS ^ | February 9, 2012 8:47 AM

[narses]

(CBS News) J.C. Penney is trying to rebuild its customer base with help from a new spokeswoman, Ellen DeGeneres. But a group called One Million Moms is accusing the company of "jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon."

DeGeneres responded to the group on her TV show Wednesday, saying, "I'm happy about (being the spokesperson) J.C. Penney is happy about it. But there's this group called One Million Moms that is not happy about it. And normally I try not to pay attention to my haters, but this time I'd like to talk about it because my haters are my motivators. This organization doesn't think I should be the spokesperson because I am gay. 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 its partnership the talk show host.

On "CBS This Morning," Thursday, 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."

"We don't look at it like a controversy. One of the great things about America is people can speak their mind. And you know, the organization that believes one thing has spoken and it was great to see Ellen share her views yesterday. And we stand squarely behind Ellen as our spokesperson and that's a great thing. Because she shares the same values that we do in our company. Our company was founded 110 years ago on the golden rule, which is about treating people fair and square, just like you would like to be treated yourself. And we think Ellen represents the values of our company and the values that we share."

[al_c]

I will say trying to “normalize” homosexualism is as evil as trying to deny autistic people help.

Agreed.

[traditional1]

That was one of the stores I USED TO SHOP AT.

I've fired off my notice to them that caving to sex deivates just took them off my list of "places to shop".

[Liberty Valance]

Does this mean JCPenny will now have more comfortable shoes?

[verga]

There is a list somewhere of “gay” friendly companies.

Isn't Disney on that list as well, after the "Gay-Day debacle in Florida

[wagglebee]

Well she’s in those make-up commercials and those don’t seem to be overtly pushing the gay agenda.

Well, well, this is very telling indeed Grunthor. You've spent the past three days pushing abortion and now you're pushing the homosexual agenda.

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[CMAC51]

Ellen is a very talented comedian & talkshow host. Yet putting her homosexuality up front has gotten her shows cancelled in the past. When she doesn’t push that aspect she does just fine with her audience.

I don't ever recall Ellen pushing her sexuality. She tried to keep it private and was outed. Being a very honest person she did not deny it. She tried to down play it, her exact quote being, "Yes I am Lebanese." She is not outspoken about it. The firestorms that have resulted in show cancellations have not been instigated by Ellen.

Ellen is an extremely kind, generous, honest and loving person, all very Christian values. However, to many Christians, she is GAY and nothing else. I wouldn't say that I am pro gay, but I do have a problem when people that I know lie, cheat, steal, philander, demonstrate hatred and bigotry, all sins, get very demonstrative about Ellen's sexuality being a sin, rather than learning from her strengths.

I will allow God to deal with her sensuality. Meanwhile, I will try to learn kindness, generosity, honesty and respect for my fellow beings from her. If I learn from Ellen's strengths, then I will be the better Christian for it.

[Crusher138]

Let JPC know how you feel:

https://shop5.jcpenney.com/jcp/frm_generalinquiries.aspx?VID=&Email=&Referer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jcpenney.com%2fjcp%2fCustomerServiceSub.aspx%3fDeptID%3d12476%26CatID%3d25278%26CatTyp%3dCSR%26cmResetCat%3dTrue%26CmCatId%3dhomepage&Subject=General+Inquiries&Topic=&CmCatId=

[wardaddy]

Why on earth does business just stir up crap when trying to promote positive attention...especially Penney’s...a dying brand.

I do not do this in my business, it’s not the place for it....counter productive too

course airhead America could care less, they slopped at Oprah’s trough long enough

sad...

whatever happened to June Lockheart or Barbara Billingsley?

[CMAC51]

I was trying to think of one woman comedienne who’s actually funny. Came up blank. Griffin is outright disgusting. DeGeneres has backed off her ‘in your face’ lesbianism of earlier times, and she is funny, did a good job for AmEx.

The ‘shared values’ statement could well have been left unsaid. Even CEO’s are entitled to be stupid from time to time.

I don't ever remember Ellen being "in your face", even when she was defending herself against attacks. She is one of the most kind, generous, respectful and loving celebrities of this day. If those are the values JCP is talking about, where is the problem?

[longtermmemmory]

and we are free to reject the company for associating with such a person who opposes marriage.

Note how she is using the buzzword “equality”

Why not just say homoesexuals just “need room to grow” ala 1930’s

[1scrappymom]

My problem is I don’t care for Ellen. You may think all those positive things about her, but I don’t. Others don’t either. We are entitled to opinion as much as you are.

She also had the Mooochelle on the other day and was fawning over her.

There are so many other people that JC Penny could have picked, but they did something stupid and picked a person sure to cause notice. Maybe it will be popular with some liberals. However, it isn’t with me or my family. To be honest, we’d rather they lower prices or improve quality than spend money on a “spokesperson”.

[al_c]

and we are free to reject the company for associating with such a person who opposes marriage.

Absolutely!

[Neoliberalnot]

Is there a funny pervert you wouldn’t hire? A spokespervert for your company as long as they make money. You got a real set of values there.

[Neoliberalnot]

I was with Ellen on this one until she called people who disagree with her “haters”

Make no mistake about what E. Degenerate is hiding in her mind and soul. What is on the camera is usually edited, right?

[Tallguy]

I don't ever recall Ellen pushing her sexuality.

Ellen's first sitcom "Ellen" was initially quite successful until the character she played "came out." She may have been "outed" before that, I don't recall. Anyway, the show quickly lost ratings and Ellen went on several talkshows, notably Oprah, in which she discussed her lifestyle and her show's demise. I would charactarize that as 'pushing' her lifestyle choices. Then there was the very publicized relationship with Portia De Rossi.

It was a little hard to ignore.

[drjimmy]

whatever happened to June Lockheart or Barbara Billingsley?

I must say I had the hots for June Lockhart when I was a kid watching her on Lost in Space. But if you knew anything about her personal life, you'd probably want to boycott her as well.

She was canned from serving as host of the Miss USA Pageant under a morals clause when it was revealed she was living in sin with a much younger man (life imitating art for Mrs. Robinson). She also very publicly protested against the Vietnam War.

As for Barbara Billingsley, while she was married three times she's no Newt--only one of her marriages ended because of divorce. So I guess she'd be a great spokesperson for JC Penney. Well, if it wasn't for her being dead.

[Neoliberalnot]

I think it’s the other way around.
The homos are being used as a weapon by the anti-Christian left.

The goal is to criminalize Christianity. And it will happen.””

The homos are the anti-Christian left.

[Neoliberalnot]

Ellen got quiet about her sexuality after her relationship mishap(lesbian partner became straight).””

Looking long enough at Ms Degenerate would drive some people to cross species lines.

[murron]

She does commercials for makeup, I think Cover Girl, and there has been no controversy that I am aware of regarding that. I do find it strange that a lesbian would be chosen to do a makeup commercial, but she does it with great humor as is usually Ellen. I have no problem with Ellen being a spokesperson for a particular product as long as her lesbianism isn’t made part of the commercial.