Posted on 01/04/2024 8:05:25 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The founder of Lululemon is blasting the athleisure apparel company's push to include diversity, equity, and inclusion in its marketing— specifically by featuring overweight, plus-size women to model their clothes.
Billionaire Chip Wilson is taking swings against Lululemon's DEI programs, saying they are destroying the company he created that once featured fit, healthy women in its ads.
"I think the definition of a brand is that you're not everything to everybody. You've got to be clear that you don't want certain customers coming in," Wilson said, adding that the brand is trying to "become like the Gap, everything to everybody."
Wilson said that the models being used in the ads, who are clearly obese, look "unhealthy," "sickly," and "not inspirational."
Wilson stepped down as CEO in 2013 and left the board two years later after saying that "some women's bodies just don't actually work" in Lululemon's popular yoga pants. The woke media claimed Wilson was "fat-shaming" despite clearly being the size of Lizzo.
In response, Lululemon defended the company's DEI programs and distanced itself from the founder.
"Chip Wilson does not speak for Lululemon, and his comments do not reflect our company views or beliefs," a Lululemon spokesperson said. "We have made considerable progress since launching our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action (IDEA) function, and we are proud of the goals we have achieved."
After his interview with Forbes, the woke publication claimed that Wilson's comments prove he is not the "person to run a 21st-century retailer." DEI initiatives promote men and women of all colors, shapes, and sizes, but according to Wilson, this is a massive branding issue for Lululemon.
If it sells stuff, why not? It's just present day reality.
For that matter, I'm fat, but I don't buy clothing based on models.
large number of Americans are fat now.
Man, you are not kidding.
Went out to country dance bar for New Years Eve and just darn. Didn’t see more than hand full of attractive, trim and in shape young women in the 20-40 year old demographic. And the tattoo thing has really gotten out of hand.
A tasteful tat strategically located in not necessarily a bad thing but heck, people are getting huge areas of their bods inked and the work is neither tasteful or artistic.
What were they thinking?
Absolutely. The reason models are thin is because everything looks better on a thin person, and as a “fitness” brand, it is ridiculous to have fat models. You can offer large sizes, but don’t make us look at fat models. I read recently that Victoria’s Secret has gotten the message and will no longer feature fat models. Doubt that Lululemon is that smart.
Who wants to buy clothes from a company that models them with fat, ugly chicks?
I still marvel that this company thrives by selling $125 pairs of long johns.
Some say your body is a temple.
Mine’s a bounce house.
My doctor told me to get in shape, I told him,” I am in shape, round is a shape”.
What’s the #1 killer of skinny people?
Messing with fat people.
This guy is a breath of fresh air.
You’ve got to be clear that you don’t want certain customers coming in,” Wilson said,
Ok, that right there is disgusting. I don’t wear yoga pants, and it sounds like I couldn’t afford them there, anyway.
Dump your Lulu Lemon stock pronto. It was a good run.
I have no problem with plus-size models. Ad agencies don’t use large ugly women. Don’t really see what the issue is.
Vicky Secret’s DEI fat ugly sales campaign flopped as well. Hiring the commie, lesbian, kneel taking, soccer girl was an expensive flop too.
See my previous post.
I second the guys stance. I do not want to see trannys, fatsos or sickly thin models. It’s nasty. Just to make some fat person happy. Screw them, we’re human and want to see pretty humans in advertising if we must be subjected to it.
Not disgusting at all. It’s an opinion. I agree with that opinion. I guess you’re fat or going semi woke.
Are all these so called advertising geniuses idiots? Did they not learn from the Victoria’a Secret Plus sized models fiasco? I swear there is a plot to crash the stock market and ruin American companies.
I don’t want to see that crap.
Why not just go to the zombie zone in Philadelphia and drape the overpriced leggings on the homeless druggies while they are shooting up or defecating in the streets?
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