Last year we learned that retailer Diva was selling Playboy accessories– including Playmate of the month themes- to young girls in stores around the country. In response, we circulated a petition that received over 8000 signatures within weeks and generated substantial media attention. Diva quietly removed Playboy merchandise from shelves and staff advised us they had been returned to Head Office.
A few months later, some supporters alerted us that Playboy jewelry was popping up again in shops. Some stores even kept it behind the counter. One supporter Jo shared the response she received from Diva.
So why is Diva once again selling the very same items for $3 each?
It is quite clear to us that Diva is not concerned with entrenching the brand of the global sex industry to young girls, not about grooming them to be consumers of the Playboy brand as they get older. Diva initially defended their decision to stock Playboy , describing it as “fashion chic”. However, the Playboy logo found on their jewellery has very little to do with fashion and much more with the global pornographic industry. Playboy Enterprises owns a large selection of TV channels hosting brutal, hardcore pornography. You can read some of the titles here.
In response to complaints via twitter and on their facebook page, Diva have said:
We have reopened our original petition. Please sign it!
Write on Diva’s public Facebook page
Contact Diva on twitter
As published at Collective Shout
3 Responses
Slimy and unethical, they are determined to sell that stock and not get stuck with it. Unbelievable they quietly sneak it back on the shelves after they think the furor has died down.
You know, there have been times when companies have made bad choices and then done the right thing. Target recently demonstrated this when they released a porn tee for men. So, on occasion, I have forgiven and returned as a customer in good faith.
This was never the case for me with Diva. I gave up a LOT of time on this campaign and had a hunch this would happen. Because of this, I never returned to Diva. We had shopped there quite a bit as I have a daughter who falls into their target age demo and it was a good easy place to find a gift.
I am so glad I listened to my intuition on this one. I am completely insulted by this blatant disregard for everything that happened the 1st time the peddled porn to minors.
Diva, you disgust me.
I am so glad organisations like Collective Shout make this type of marketing known and thereby mounting pressure on the companies.
As Davina alludes, they think that we have short memories and will adopt an attitude of letting it die down.
They are sorely mistaken.