**PetSmart latest to face backlash for marketing LGBTQ-themed products**
PetSmart has become the most recent company to face public backlash for promoting LGBTQ-themed products. After releasing a new line of rainbow inspired items for pets, many people expressed their unhappiness on social media.
PetSmart’s new line included items such as dog bikinis, butterfly cat leashes, and reptile costumes with capes. Some customers were so upset that they posted photographs of the products on social media, claiming they immediately walked out of the store in response. However, others have stated that similar items have been sold in store since 2019.
This promotion comes amid many boycotts of companies endorsing LGBTQ-friendly messages. With a substantial donation to a controversial LGBTQ advocacy group, PetSmart has further drawn criticism from those who believe in traditional values.
**Businesses are warned to respect customers’ beliefs**
In celebration of Pride Month, PetSmart announced that they are also donating $200,000 to GLSEN, an LGBTQ advocacy group. This donation has not gone unnoticed, as many people criticize GLSEN for its push to bring sexual topics into public school curricula while organizing drag queen events for student clubs. Critics are urging that companies must respect the values of customers who hold conservative beliefs.
One of the most significant boycotts that began this wave of backlash was Bud Light’s celebration of a transgender TikTok influencer transitioning from male to female. The move resulted in plummeting sales in the U.S. and significant stock valuation losses. This boycott was followed by the battering of the Los Angeles Dodgers for awarding a controversial “Community Heroes” title to a group notorious for blasphemous acts against Christians and Catholics.
PetSmart’s backlash has sparked conversations over promotional material and its reflection of societal values. In response to the LGBTQ-themed products and recent criticism, KTLA-TV poked fun at the controversy, speaking of “gender-fluid fish” items in the store.
With an increasing wave of conservative consumers calling out companies for promoting LGBTQ-related content and advocacy, it’s apparent that businesses must tread carefully, keeping their customers’ beliefs in mind.
**Losing values: Public considers a boycott**
The public’s reaction to PetSmart’s LGBTQ-themed products and subsequent donation to GLSEN has shown that companies should carefully consider the beliefs of their customer base before pushing an agenda. The backlash surrounding Bud Light and the Los Angeles Dodgers serves as a warning: forcing controversial issues and ignoring traditional values may lead to the erosion of customer support and potential boycotts.
