Friday, January 18, 2013

7 Hippie Companies That Aren't As Liberal As You Think

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey recently ticked off a lot of his grocery chain's customers when he decided to compare Obamacare to "fascism" during an interview with NPR. But he's not the first CEO to have alienated a left-leaning customer base -- not by a long shot. Check out some other dust-ups below:

Whole Foods

Whole Foods CEO John Mackey wrote in January 2013 that Obamacare wasn't a form socialism -- as he had called it in 2009 -- but "more like fascism."

Urban Outfitters

Despite being known for edgy and controversial clothing, Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne's support of anti-gay marriage presidential candidate Rick Santorum led to a boycott, according to the Washington Post.

Lululemon Athletica

Yoga apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica may have annoyed some of its more egalitarian customers when it included a quote from Ayn Rand's famously pro-capitalist novel Atlas Shrugged on its bags, the New York Times reported. Founder and chairman Dennis J. Wilson is a known fan of the book.

New Balance

New Balance customers ran a petition on Change.org after Chairman Jim Davis donated $500,000 to pro-Mitt Romney Super PAC Restore Our Future. New Balance's CEO released a statement in response, reaffirming the company's support of gay marriage.

Coachella

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a popular destination for forward-thinking music lovers, but the brand ran into some hot water when Philip Anschutz, head of its parent company AEG, made a $50,000 donation to a Boehner-linked Super PAC, according to ThinkProgress.

TOMS

TOMS shoes founder and CEO Blake Mycoskie found himself called out after speaking at an event hosted by Focus on the Family, an anti-abortion group. Mycoskie later claimed he was unaware of the "full extent of Focus on the Family's beliefs."

GoDaddy.com

Ex-CEO of GoDaddy.com Bob Parsons caused a controversy when he uploaded a video of himself hunting an elephant. He was replaced as CEO shortly after.


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