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."

[SoConPubbie]

Personally, I think Ellen is funny and I don’t have an issue with a company hiring her as a spokesperson. This is a free country, after all ... right?

That post right there says alot about why you think if Romney is the Nominee we need to vote for him.

[Albion Wilde]

QUOTE: “I didn’t come here to improve. I came here to transform. Every single leader in America... can create gradual results, but... how fast did you improve compared to someone else? You don’t fundamentally change your position in the marketplace.”

Sounds like that other Bozo who wanted to fundamentally change America. Lotsa luck, sucka.

[al44]

OK, then please accept my apology.

[trisham]

Apology accepted.

[Albion Wilde]

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.

Well, isn't that special. Like a lot of head-in-the-sand "Christians," you don't seem to care how impressionable children and teens will be influenced by a major retailer's public endorsement of someone who practices distorted behavior.

[al_c]

So what ... you’re going to start stalking now? You’re a real piece of work, dude.

[Antoninus]

JC Penney shares her values, eh?

Cool.

They just lost a life-long customer.

[SoConPubbie]

So what ... you’re going to start stalking now? You’re a real piece of work, dude.

Wow.

I post to you on two threads and now I am a stalker?

Get a little thicker skin.

[al_c]

Which is worse? Consumers telling a company that they won’t shop there any longer because of a controversial spokesperson, or a company firing an employee because they weren’t politically correct/liberal enough?

Hey ... comsumers voicing their opinions by no longer supporting a company is one thing ... and I'm all for it. But demanding that a company fire someone based on sexual preference is another. Twist this into something else all you want, but those are the facts of this story.

Do you think a company should fire someone because of sexual preference?

[luvie]

Blackened......very Cajun! Nom-nom!

[al_c]

I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Carry on.

[BykrBayb]

I see what you mean. I’m just not so sure they’re Americans. They don’t act like they want to be anyway.

[little jeremiah]

Finally. He’s a liberaltarian/leftist combo sandwich.

[Antoninus]

Let JC Penney know what you think...

[trisham]

I think you’re missing the point here. Imho, they hired her because of her sexual preference.

[trisham]

Agreed.

[BykrBayb]

Well some of us were cheering, even if we didn’t take the time to write it down. I love when trolls get zotted.

WOO HOO!!!!

[TheOldLady]

Chow down, Viking Kitty!

[al_c]

Then don’t shop there. That’s your right.

[Albion Wilde]

This thread illustrates why America is circling the drain. The left is VERY good a propaganda.

Such as this oft-repeated meme that conservatives want Ellen "fired", and that's not fair! WAAAAAAAAH!

The woman has a television show, royalties from other media she's been in, and a Cover Girl endorsement contract. She's hardly going to end up in the street with no milk for the baby if they simply do not hire her due to public backlash.

Or, as one of the other posters said, they should also hire Tim Tebow and someone Asian and someone black as spokespersons, and then it wouldn't be so obnoxious.