HGTV viewers beg network to stop doing business with Wayfair: 'They are profiting from children in cages'
HGTV fans are paying close attention to the employee walkout of home goods retailer Wayfair that took place Wednesday at the company’s Boston headquarters.
Wayfair employees learned last week that the company planned to fulfill a $200,000 order for bedroom furniture made by government contractor, BCFS, that’s responsible for managing facilities that detain migrant children at the southern border of the United States. A group of employees subsequently wrote a letter to company leaders protesting the decision that more than 500 workers signed. They asked that the company stop doing business with BCFS and create a code of ethics that aligns with employee values. When Wayfair executives disagreed, the employees planned the walkout. CNN correspondent Cristina Alesci reported Wednesday that the company would soon announce plans to donate profits from the sale, but the walkout went on as scheduled.
Online, fans of Flip or Flop, House Hunters and other HGTV favorites called for the network to dump Wayfair, too. They demanded that they keep its ads off the airwaves and end its collaborations with the brand, which its teamed with for sweepstakes and design projects.
Viewers pleaded with HGTV to “please stop doing business with this company.” If not, some viewers said, they would stop watching.
I love you @hgtv but please stop the @Wayfair ads. They are profiting from children in cages. #DoTheRightThing #BoycottWayfair
— My hood is RE*SISTER*HOOD (@YResister) June 26, 2019
@hgtv do you still support @Wayfair ? After their CEO supports the detention of innocent children? #WayfairWalkout
— Elizabeth Ellis (@Elizabethdawn15) June 26, 2019
Say goodbye to this customer #Wayfair @hgtv are you planning on continuing your collaboration with @Wayfair #WayfairWalkout
— Jennee (@Just_Jenn_ee) June 26, 2019
Hey @Wayfair why are you selling items to for-profit internment camps? Despicable. And @hgtv why are you still advertising for Wayfair when they’re doing this?
— NFL (@FLNicolie) June 26, 2019
@hgtv take @Wayfair adds off or I'm done watching you.
— Vanessa (@_Vanessa_Chacon) June 26, 2019
They told the network, “you are better than this” and referred to any profits made from a relationship with Wayfair as “#bloodmoney.”
@Wayfair you've lost another customer here. Ill take my business else. @hgtv you are better than this. Please stop doing business with this company.
"Wayfair employees plan a walkout in response to the company furnishing border facilities" https://t.co/2Yh5x2RLrd— Omar Lugo (@1BubbaGump) June 25, 2019
Hey @hgtv please don’t continue accepting #bloodmoney from @wayfair. #NoConcentrationCamps
— Dina (@SocProfDina) June 25, 2019
In a statement, HGTV told Yahoo Entertainment, “We don’t attempt to influence or comment on our sponsors’ business decisions.”
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