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Lululemon Founder Criticizes the Company's Push to Feature Overweight, 'Unhealthy,' and 'Sickly' Models
Townhall ^ | 01/04/2024 | Sarah Arnold

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: diet; lululemon; models; obesity; weight
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To: SeekAndFind

Much like forcing a weight loss plan to promote eating donuts and pastries to lose weight


21 posted on 01/05/2024 3:57:13 AM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: rdcbn1
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.

I would say that a majority of Americans have embraced trash culture and sloth.

22 posted on 01/05/2024 4:00:35 AM PST by Sirius Lee (Next week on The Bickersons...)
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To: rdcbn1

“And the tattoo thing has really gotten out of hand”

I’ve never understood the massive tattooing. It can be nice, but geez it’s on there forever. Temporary tattoos, if there’s such a thing, make a lot more sense.


23 posted on 01/05/2024 4:47:48 AM PST by cymbeline
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To: SeekAndFind

Fat is not healthy. Extreme obesity is deadly. To me a fat woman is not at all attractive.

When I was a kid just about all young and middle aged women had great figures. It was the norm. Not so today, maybe a quarter of them have healthy looking figures.


24 posted on 01/05/2024 6:55:13 AM PST by redfreedom (Joseph Stalin: "It does not mater how anyone votes, how votes are counted is what matters.")
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To: TermLimits4All

As my skirt chasing friend has said, “Yoga pants are a privilege, not a right.”

EC


25 posted on 01/05/2024 6:56:50 AM PST by Ex-Con777
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To: FreedomPoster

OMG, I burst out laughing.


26 posted on 01/05/2024 7:08:17 AM PST by Tommy Revolts
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To: SeekAndFind

Good


27 posted on 01/05/2024 7:11:03 AM PST by wardaddy (I have seen true anti semitism is more common in USA than I imagined. A disease in the public mind)
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To: Mogger
If it sells stuff, why not? It's just present day reality.

I agree. This isn't DEI; it's basic marketing.

28 posted on 01/05/2024 7:23:52 AM PST by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: LizzieD
as a “fitness” brand, it is ridiculous to have fat models

Agree, and the brand is really for kids under 30 and athletes in great shape under 50.

29 posted on 01/05/2024 7:25:26 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: SeekAndFind

There are catalogues for plus size clothing. Woman Within, for one. The clothing looks good on their healthy plus size models. A lot of seniors use these catalogues to phone in their orders.


30 posted on 01/05/2024 7:44:07 AM PST by Ciexyz (Prayers for America and Israel.)
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To: SeekAndFind

We moved from South Florida to New Mexico 18 years ago. Our boys were 13 and 8. It did really occur to me that we would be drastically lowering their number of acceptable future mates by doing so.

In our old social circles the young women averaged - please forgive me - a good solid 8. We didn’t appreciate that at the time, but the white, upper middle class girls were attractive, well mannered, and generally acceptable. Sounds horrible, but you start to think about these things for your children at a certain age.

Out here in NM the attractive white upper middle class girl is freaking unicorn. My older son got lucky. On his first day at his school bus stop he met a girl who had also just moved into the neighborhood from Florida. They eventually started dating, got married, and have blessed me with two beautiful grandchildren. My young son was not so lucky.

His romantic life was a series of dramas with somewhat trashy girls who tried to get him into sex and drugs. He wanted none of that. He was a counselor at a church camp in Texas for several summers and after one summer, decided to stay there. He met a wonderful girl, from a wonderful family. He didn’t find out until long after they were engaged that the grandparents on both of her sides of the family were wealthy - one oil, one cattle. He is now married and a police officer.

All this to say that, and I don’t know if it is EVERYWHERE, but the girls here have weight issues, tattoos, and lots and lots of drama.


31 posted on 01/05/2024 7:58:32 AM PST by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: wjcsux

I NEVER WOULD OR WILL


32 posted on 01/05/2024 9:46:27 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: GSWarrior

STACY ABRAMS & LIZZO are not attractive.


33 posted on 01/05/2024 9:47:39 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: ridesthemiles

They’re gravitationally attractive!


34 posted on 01/05/2024 9:51:35 AM PST by Reily (!!)
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To: rdcbn1

What were they thinking?


Possibly for starters, “nobody wants to have sex with me, I am not desired or desirable to fit, wealthy or good looking men... maybe I am not a ten, not a princess, but I am aspirationally at least, a strong, powerful, influential, high maintenance but repulsive un-wanted cat lady. Maybe more food some gender dysphoria meds and some tatoos will help me hide my elephant-like appearance.”

or some variation therof


35 posted on 01/05/2024 9:59:16 AM PST by MIA_eccl1212 (10-10-10-10)
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To: Ex-Con777

your friend is wise.


36 posted on 01/05/2024 10:01:48 AM PST by MIA_eccl1212 (10-10-10-10)
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To: Mr.Unique
If it sells stuff

If I were a betting man I would bet it doesn't.

What woman looks at a fat chick model and says she wants to look like that? I mean, what's the point in exercising if you're just going to end up looking like a stuffed sausage?

37 posted on 01/05/2024 11:40:55 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: FreedomPoster

Who's that dude on the right?

38 posted on 01/05/2024 11:43:12 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: cymbeline
I’ve never understood the massive tattooing

Felon Chic

39 posted on 01/05/2024 11:45:13 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

I hate the ads with fat women.

However if that really helps them sell product then that is their call.

I want to see some real uncensored numbers.


40 posted on 01/05/2024 11:49:10 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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