Walgreens Stock Down Amid Backlash Over 'Woke' Advert

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-11-18 20:46:05 | Updated at 2024-11-24 03:57:24 5 days ago

Walgreens Stock Down Amid Backlash Over 'Woke' Advert
Newsweek ^ | Flynn Nicholls

Posted on 11/18/2024 12:34:24 PM PST by nickcarraway

Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of British retailer Boots, has seen its stock decline during a turbulent week after facing backlash over its allegedly "woke" Christmas advert.

The stock closed Friday at $8.48, down 3.75 percent from Thursday, continuing a broader downward trend. Walgreens-Boots shares are down 66 percent over the past year and trading at their lowest since 1996.

Last week, Boots stirred conservative anger after releasing its Christmas commercial featuring actor Adjoa Andoh as Mrs. Claus and a scene referencing gender-inclusive pronouns, where Mrs. Claus uses they/them pronouns when referring to one gift recipient.

Newsweek has contacted Walgreens-Boots Alliance via email for comment. Andoh was the subject of criticism in 2023, when she said King Charles III's coronation ceremony was "terribly white." She made the comments during British channel ITV's coverage of the coronation.

Broadcast regulator Ofcom received over 8,000 complaints about the comment, but decided not to take action.

Following Andoh's inclusion in the Boots ad, many online critics have accused the company of promoting "woke" values and promised to boycott the brand over Christmas.

Darren Grimes, a presenter on conservative British television channel GB News, posted on X, formerly Twitter, "Look at the share price of Boots since their Christmas ad came out with the 'terribly white' race baiting actress. People power." The post garnered 631,000 views by Sunday morning.

Another user @InevitableWest, a self-described "Defender of Western values and culture," who has 61,800 followers on the site, also made a link between the advert and the stock price.

In a Friday X post, the user wrote, "BREAKING: Walgreens Boots Alliance inc's (owner of Boots UK) has had $800 MILLION WIPED from their share capital following anti-white advert. Go woke, go BROKE. This is just the start." The post was viewed 2.6 million times

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: advertising; walgreens; woke

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

1 posted on 11/18/2024 12:34:24 PM PST by nickcarraway

To: nickcarraway

Glad I don’t use Walgreens.

3 posted on 11/18/2024 12:39:49 PM PST by BigFreakinToad (All she is, is cackles in the wind.)

To: nickcarraway

They pulled that bad Negress as Mrs. Claus trick. I wonder why these people don't celebrate their own traditions and holidays. They have Kwanza. Leave our holidays alone.

4 posted on 11/18/2024 12:41:10 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth forever. — Psalm 106)

To: McCarthysGhost

DEI marketing departments test their advertising in an echo chamber. Idiots.

To: nickcarraway

Even AOC has removed her pronouns from her social media.

Maybe SOME are getting the message.

6 posted on 11/18/2024 12:42:41 PM PST by MayflowerMadam (🎶 They're eating the dogs. They're eating the cats. 🎶)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Read Entire Article