Causes.com
| 11.13.17

Do Boycotts Really Matter?

Join us and tell your reps how you feel!

What’s the story?

As long as there have been businesses there have been boycotts, but with the advent of social media they explode and grow quickly. Advertisers pulled ads from Sean Hannity’s show on Fox following his interview with Senate candidate Roy Moore. Moore is accused of pursuing a sexual relationship with a 14-year old girl when he was a 32-year old district attorney.

Hannity then encouraged supporters to smash their Keurig machines (and assumably replace then with a different product).

Why does it matter?

Boycotts have worked over the course of history. Coca-Cola ended up withdrawing from their South African bottling operations and selling them off to Black South African investors in response to a worldwide boycott. Boycotters took issue with the corporation’s participation in the economy of apartheid South Africa.

In 2015 Donald Trump joked about the possibility of boycotting Starbucks over their winter holiday coffee cups in response to accusations the chain was disrespecting Christmas out of political correctness.

And now there’s the Keurig explosion. Literally, as owners smash their machines with hammers and drop them off of balconies, all in protest over the company’s advertising decision.

Business Insider now reports that the CEO of Keurig, Bob Gamgort, apologized to company employees for "any negativity" they experienced following a decision in which the company appeared to “take sides” in a political debate.

The company, however, does not seem to be reversing its decision to pull the ads.

What do you think?

Do boycotts matter? Do you boycott any products? If so, why? If not, why not?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: @angeloJohnGage via Twitter)