Special Reports

Autumn 2011 Life Decisions International vol. xiv • no. 4

KENNETH COLE’S CONTROVERSIAL ADS Funding Of Planned Parenthood May Have Ceased, But…

by Douglas R. Scott, Jr.

enneth Cole Productions Inc., a past boycott target due to its funding of Planned Parenthood,

has garnered a lot of free publicity thanks to a

series of recently released advertisements. The “Where

do you stand?” campaign is the mechanism being used to

permeate the nation with his point of view on four impor-tant issues: abortion, gun control, same-sex marriage, and

war. And you can guess which position the company has taken on each subject.

There are several main components to the “Where do you

stand?” campaign. It is made up primarily of four print ads. Corresponding videos, which range in length from

41 to 47 seconds, have also been released and could be

edited for use as television commercials. All were made in black-and-white.

Another element of the campaign is use of the internet to

expand on the four previously noted topics, and to raise several other issues. While the print ads and videos are

certainly controversial, the bulk of the propaganda spew-ed by the clothier is found online.

Videos/AVideos/AVideos/AVideos/Adsdsdsds

Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. hired director Sean Ellis

(“The Broken,” “Left Turn,” etc.) to create videos for its

Fall/Winter 2011 lineup. The videos and print ads feature models Angela Lindvall and/or Casey Taylor. Let us de-scribe the videos and take a look at the related print ads.

Abortion: The first scene of the video is a close-up of an

attractive woman. She looks sad, troubled, maybe even a

little frightened. We soon see that the woman is leaning with her back against a wall. The close-up returns and the

look of worry continues. She stands up straight and walks

over to another wall which bears the words, “Should it be

a woman’s right to choose…” Returning to a close-up, her look of concern slowly turns to one of control, con-tentment, and self-assurance.

In the next scene several Kenneth Cole brand handbags have been lined up as if they were on a store shelf. The

woman confidently walks to them and picks one up. Yes, she had to make a choice. Which handbag is right for her?

As she walks away we see that the words on the wall have changed from “Should it be a woman’s right to choose…” to “…if she’s the one carrying it? – Kenneth Cole.” Point made. The 41-second video ends with a website address (also on the wall) (wheredoyoustand.com), which auto-matically connects to an advocacy site (awearness.com).

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Gun Control: The shadow of a man is seen as he walks. The man’s hand is shown. It is twitching as though he is

about to draw in a Wild West showdown. Returning to the

shadow, we now see the man’s arms are at his sides and

the other hand is twitching in the same manner. A glance at the man’s face, which bears a look of seriousness, is

just what one would expect of a man about to draw his

guns. The next scene shows a message on a wall. “Is the

person most at risk…”

The man is shown drawing the weapon, but it is just his

right hand in the shape of a gun. With the fist clenched and his index and forefingers pointed out, the man walks

cautiously. We see there is a second man who is also act-ing as though he has a weapon. The sound of two rounds is heard and one man, who has been backed into a wall, is

“shot.” A message on the wall reads, “Is the person most at risk the one with the gun? – Kenneth Cole.” Once again, point made. The 47-second video ends with the

same website address.

KKKK

Autumn 2011 Special Reports Page 2

Kenneth Cole was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 23, 1954. His

father, Charles Cole, owned El Greco Inc., a shoe manufacturing company

that created the highly successful Candie’s line of footwear for women. Before learning the family business and starting his own company in 1982, Cole studied law at Emory University but left to enter the family business.

Cole started his own women’s footwear company in 1982. He wanted to

unveil the Kenneth Cole Inc. line of shoes during New York City’s Market Week, but was unable to rent a room to display his product. Undaunted, Cole asked about parking a trailer two blocks from the event venue where

he could show his wares. Upon learning that permits for trailers were only

given to utility and production companies, Cole changed Kenneth Cole

Inc. to Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. He applied for a permit to film what he called “The Birth of a Shoe Company.” The ploy worked and Cole sold

some 40,000 pairs of shoes in less than 60 hours.

After establishing the Kenneth Cole name as a premier designer of women’s footwear, Cole branched out into clothing and accessories for men and women. His clothing was made recognizable through the use of simple designs, a clean yet stylish look, and functionality.

The company became known for its one-liner, pun-filled ads that are often

riddled with double entendres, sometimes mixing in messages unrelated

to business. An ad from 1998 proclaimed, “Have a heart, give a sole,” and

encouraged buyers to donate a pair of their old shoes by reducing the

prices of new pairs by 20 percent. One of the company’s first controversial ads, “Wear a rubber sole,” was used to encourage men to use condoms.

For World AIDS Day in 2005 Kenneth Cole Products released tee-shirts

bearing the message, “We All Have AIDS” or “I Have AIDS.” The idea was

to get people to wear the shirts regardless of their health status, which

Cole believed would help diminish the stigma attached to the disease. As

he explained, “There is a legend of the Danish king, Christian X, who, dur-ing World War II, when Hitler insisted all Jews publicly wear a yellow Star of David, would wear the star himself, hence making it difficult to differenti-ate who was Jewish. This is kind of like that, hopefully.”

In the summer of 2007 Kenneth Cole began its “Awearness” campaign, which included a new line of tee-shirts used to promote the work of sever-al organizations. Proceeds were donated to the company’s Awearness

Fund. The campaign was further aided by a book, Awearness: Inspiring

Stories About How to Make a Difference, which features celebrities who

were promoting various causes.

Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. went public in 1994. It has been included

on Forbes list of the 200 “Best Small Companies” four times. The compa-ny sells its products under one of three brand names: Kenneth Cole New

York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, or Unlisted. It now operates over 90 retail and outlet stores worldwide but does much of its business through cata-logue and internet sales. Cole controls almost all of the voting rights and

45 percent of the company. Annual income exceeds $457.3 million. In

August 2006 Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. announced that it would stop

using fur in its garments.

Cole has supported AIDS awareness and research since 1985. He has

donated to such groups as Mentoring USA, amfAR and Rock the Vote.

Cole married Maria Cuomo in 1987. She is the daughter of former Gover-nor Mario M. Cuomo, D-N.Y., sister of the sitting governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, D-N.Y., and sister of Christopher C. Cuomo, co-host of “20/20” on

the ABC television network. While claiming to be Catholic, the pro-abor-tion views of the Cuomo family are well-known. By becoming Cole’s wife

Maria Cuomo married outside of her faith, but it is clear that Catholicism

and its tenets are not of particular importance to her. Cole is Jewish. They have three daughters.

TheTheTheThe printprintprintprint versionversionversionversion ofofofof thethethethe adadadad describeddescribeddescribeddescribed above.above.above.above.

Same-Sex Marriage: The first scene is a close-up of an

attractive woman. The scene changes to a close-up of a

handsome man but it quickly returns to the woman. The

next thing we see is a wall bearing a message. “Those

against same-sex marriage aren’t thinking straight.”

In the next scene the man and woman are facing each other. They kiss passionately. The scene rapidly changes to one of two women kissing. Back to the man and

woman, it changes again to show two men kissing. The

three scenes are exchanged with increasing speed and

ends with the man and woman standing next to a wall which reads, “Those against same-sex marriage aren’t thinking straight. (Or are they?) – Kenneth Cole.” Point made. The 44-second video ends with the ad campaign’s website address.

TheTheTheThe printprintprintprint versionversionversionversion ofofofof thethethethe adadadad describeddescribeddescribeddescribed above.above.above.above.

War: This 42-second video begins by showing a paint-brush being applied to a canvas. We then see a smoking grenade. On a wall are the words, “In war, is it who’s

right…”

Autumn 2011 Special Reports Page 3

In the next scene it appears as though an enormous protest rally is taking place. We soon see there are only two pro-testers—one man and one woman. The man holds a sign

that reads, “Wear Not War!” The woman has a bullhorn, which she soon throws to the ground and walks away—apparently disgusted that only two people showed up to

protest. The man throws his sign to the ground and walks

off. We are returned to the message on the wall. “In war, is it who’s right or who’s left? – Kenneth Cole.” The usual website address follows.

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The ads and videos serve as an effective enticement to

visit the associated website.

Website/FoundationWebsite/FoundationWebsite/FoundationWebsite/Foundation

As noted above, the website featured in the videos and

print ads (wheredoyoustand.com) links to Cole’s advo-cacy efforts (awearness.com), which are funded by the

Kenneth Cole Foundation. Visitors to awearness.com (odd spelling “cleverly” references apparel) are greeting by a two word quotation from Cole, “Getting Involved.” This is followed by a description of the Foundation:

[The Kenneth Cole Foundation] promotes, encourages and in-spires meaningful social change, and supports like-minded indi-viduals and organizations to make a difference.

As part of each partnership, we create products and host events in

support of their important causes, and select a “change agent” to

share their story of social activism to help educate and inspire

others to get involved.

The primary concern of the Kenneth Cole Foundation is

HIV/AIDS research and policy related to efforts intended to combat them. In addition to Cole, celebrities Skylar Grey, Ke$ha, Rose McGowan, Cyndi Lauper, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cheyenne Jackson, and Estelle have re-corded public service spots in support of the campaign. The celebrities are referred to as “change agents.”

In addition to the aforementioned subjects, the website addresses several other topics. The “Issues & Archive”

page breaks them into four categories: HIV/AIDS, Civil

Liberties, Freedom of Expression, and Disaster Relief.

The introduction to the HIV/AIDS section describes Kenneth Cole’s personal commitment:

Kenneth has been committing both his personal and company’s

resources to fight HIV/AIDS since he ran his first AIDS awareness

ad in 1986. He joined the board of amfAR in 1986…In 2004, Ken-neth became Chairman of the Board and still holds that position

today. As a company, we support AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related

public policy. We are dedicated to this meaningful pursuit with the

belief that if AIDS exists anywhere, it essentially exists every-where, and if anyone is infected, we are all affected.

To this end, the Kenneth Cole Foundation supports the

work of several groups: amfAR (a foundation supporting AIDS research), AIDS Walk (runs a nationwide database of AIDS research fundraising walks), the William J. Clin-ton Foundation (works with governments to increase a-vailability of quality AIDS care/treatment), ACT UP (di-rect action protest group), The Body (online resource for

HIV/AIDS data), and UNAIDS (collects the resources of United Nations groups to prevent HIV transmission).

Ads promoting the use of condoms.Ads promoting the use of condoms.Ads promoting the use of condoms.Ads promoting the use of condoms.

BillboardBillboardBillboardBillboard AdAdAdAds:s:s:s: “Wear a rubber sole…” and “Some prostitution rings are “Wear a rubber sole…” and “Some prostitution rings are “Wear a rubber sole…” and “Some prostitution rings are “Wear a rubber sole…” and “Some prostitution rings are safer than others…”safer than others…”safer than others…”safer than others…”

PrintPrintPrintPrint ads:ads:ads:ads: “Save“Save“Save“Save aaaa Hide…WearHide…WearHide…WearHide…Wear aaaa RubberRubberRubberRubber (Boot)…Support(Boot)…Support(Boot)…Support(Boot)…Support HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDSHIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS rererere----searcsearcsearcsearch:h:h:h: 100%100%100%100% ofofofof netnetnetnet profitsprofitsprofitsprofits fromfromfromfrom thethethethe samesamesamesame ofofofof thesethesethesethese bootsbootsbootsboots gogogogo totototo TheTheTheThe AwearnessAwearnessAwearnessAwearness FundFundFundFund totototo supportsupportsupportsupport amfAR.org…,”amfAR.org…,”amfAR.org…,”amfAR.org…,” “Think“Think“Think“Think Negative…,”Negative…,”Negative…,”Negative…,” andandandand “Our“Our“Our“Our

shoesshoesshoesshoes aren’taren’taren’taren’t thethethethe onlyonlyonlyonly thingthingthingthing wewewewe encourageencourageencourageencourage youyouyouyou totototo wear.”wear.”wear.”wear.”

The introduction to the Civil Rights section is clearly intended to make the public believe the people at Ken-neth Cole Productions Inc. are the epitome of bravery:

At Kenneth Cole we believe in equal rights and speaking up for minorities and other communities whose civil liberties are compro-mised or discriminated against. We have often fought controver-sial issues with controversial messages to raise awareness of in-justices in the hope that the power of public opinion can find solu-tions to help and protect those in need. From Homelessness to

Gun Control to Gay Rights, you can rest assured that we’ll con-tinue to fight for what we believe in (while we’re still at liberty to say

what we think, that is).

This section includes several other subjects. For example, the Kenneth Cole Foundation addresses homelessness

Autumn 2011 Special Reports Page 4

and capital punishment. Support is also expressed for the

“Occupation Movement” and Barack Hussein Obama II.

Civil Rights: Ads and product that take a stand.Civil Rights: Ads and product that take a stand.Civil Rights: Ads and product that take a stand.Civil Rights: Ads and product that take a stand.

HomosexualHomosexualHomosexualHomosexual Rights:Rights:Rights:Rights: “Take“Take“Take“Take youryouryouryour loverloverloverlover upupupup thethethethe isle.isle.isle.isle. SupportSupportSupportSupport marriagemarriagemarriagemarriage equality”,equality”,equality”,equality”, “I“I“I“I wantwantwantwant you.you.you.you. YouYouYouYou areareareare sosososo repealing.repealing.repealing.repealing. (Don’t(Don’t(Don’t(Don’t ask,ask,ask,ask, don’tdon’tdon’tdon’t tell.)”,tell.)”,tell.)”,tell.)”, “52%“52%“52%“52%

ofofofof AmericansAmericansAmericansAmericans thinkthinkthinkthink samesamesamesame----sexsexsexsex marriagesmarriagesmarriagesmarriages don’tdon’tdon’tdon’t deservedeservedeservedeserve aaaa goodgoodgoodgood reception.reception.reception.reception. AreAreAreAre youyouyouyou puttingputtingputtingputting usususus on?”on?”on?”on?”

HomosexualHomosexualHomosexualHomosexual Rights:Rights:Rights:Rights: “Come“Come“Come“Come out,out,out,out, comecomecomecome out,out,out,out, whereverwhereverwhereverwherever youyouyouyou are…Andare…Andare…Andare…And whilewhilewhilewhile you’reyou’reyou’reyou’re out,out,out,out, stopstopstopstop bybybyby oneoneoneone ofofofof ourourourour stores.”,stores.”,stores.”,stores.”, andandandand “Shoes“Shoes“Shoes“Shoes shouldn’tshouldn’tshouldn’tshouldn’t havehavehavehave totototo staystaystaystay inininin

thethethethe closercloserclosercloser either.”either.”either.”either.” ●●●● Privacy:Privacy:Privacy:Privacy: “Think“Think“Think“Think youyouyouyou havehavehavehave nononono privacy?privacy?privacy?privacy? You’reYou’reYou’reYou’re notnotnotnot alone…”alone…”alone…”alone…”

“Occupation“Occupation“Occupation“Occupation Movement”:Movement”:Movement”:Movement”: “We“We“We“We standstandstandstand inininin supportsupportsupportsupport ofofofof thethethethe occupationoccupationoccupationoccupation movementmovementmovementmovement (and(and(and(and manymanymanymany otherotherotherother movementsmovementsmovementsmovements forforforfor thatthatthatthat matter).”matter).”matter).”matter).” ●●●● Obama:Obama:Obama:Obama: “A“A“A“A PrecedentPrecedentPrecedentPrecedent wewewewe cancancancan bebebebe proudproudproudproud of…Congratulationsof…Congratulationsof…Congratulationsof…Congratulations BarackBarackBarackBarack Obama.”Obama.”Obama.”Obama.”

WarWarWarWar:::: “Many“Many“Many“Many childrenchildrenchildrenchildren getgetgetget sentsentsentsent totototo theirtheirtheirtheir rooms.rooms.rooms.rooms. 500,000500,000500,000500,000 havehavehavehave recentlyrecentlyrecentlyrecently beenbeenbeenbeen sentsentsentsent totototo war.war.war.war. AreAreAreAre youyouyouyou puttingputtingputtingputting usususus on?”on?”on?”on?” ●●●● War/HomelessnessWar/HomelessnessWar/HomelessnessWar/Homelessness:::: “The“The“The“The billionsbillionsbillionsbillions

spentspentspentspent onononon evictingevictingevictingevicting oneoneoneone IraqiIraqiIraqiIraqi dictatordictatordictatordictator couldcouldcouldcould househousehousehouse America’sAmerica’sAmerica’sAmerica’s 3.53.53.53.5 millionmillionmillionmillion homeless…homeless…homeless…homeless… forever.forever.forever.forever. AreAreAreAre youyouyouyou puttingputtingputtingputting usususus onononon?…”?…”?…”?…”

As part of its Civil Liberties activism, the Kenneth Cole

Foundation funds Help USA (aids the homeless), Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (gun control), Human Rights Campaign (pro-homosexual causes such as same-sex marriage), Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defama-tion (advocates the positive portrayal of homosexuals and

their agenda in the media and entertainment), The Can-dies Foundation (addresses teen pregnancy in the same way Planned Parenthood does so), and Amnesty Interna-tional USA (fights human rights abuses, except for those committed against preborn humans). Amnesty Interna-tional appears in the “Dishonorable Mention” section of The Boycott List because it has publicly expressed its

official support of abortion.

The Freedom of Expression section opens in this way:

We believe that having the freedom to express ourselves is a

basic human right. Fashion will always be one of our core outlets,

but we also support a variety of communities who express them-selves through the arts and other important movements. Many of the organizations we partner with have a bigger agenda than just entertainment. There’s often a social commentary that’s inspiring

and influential in the search for a greater good. After all, why waste

all of that creative freedom if you’re expressing nothing?

The Foundation funds many groups under the Freedom

of Expression banner: Sundance Institute (promotes in-dependent artistry), Council of Fashion Designers of A-merica (designers trade group), Declare Yourself (pushes youth voter registeration), International Freedom of Ex-pression Exchange (consortium of groups that back free

expression”), Body As Billboard (tee-shirt company that markets “wearables with a message”), and Active Voice

(communications specialists who work with the media).

The Disaster Relief section begins with a statement:

Too often we’re left thinking, “Why on earth is this happening?” From earthquakes to tsunamis to hurricanes, we can’t prevent natural disasters, but through a speedy response and focused

support we can save many lives and help rebuild them. Through

partnerships with established aid organizations, we believe it is

our civic duty to help any national or international communities

affected. Whether we’re raising funds, awareness, or both, we

hope that our relief efforts will inspire humanitarians around the

world to get involved.

The Kenneth Cole Foundation supports the following

groups as part of its Disaster Relief efforts (those in italic

type are in the Dishonorable Mention section of The Boy-cott List): American Red Cross (various relief services), UNICEF (United Nations relief agency), International Rescue Committee (worldwide network of relief work-ers), Americares (quickly responds to disasters), Doctors

Without Borders (international group of medical profes-sionals), and Save the Children (various relief services).

Offending People Is Offending People Is Offending People Is Offending People Is The NormThe NormThe NormThe Norm

Advocacy is nothing new for Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. In fact, the first ad advocating gun control appeared 25 years ago. An abortion-related ad was first seen during

a national advertising campaign that ran in 1997. The

message in the pro-abortion ad (“It’s a woman’s right to

choose. After all, she’s the one carrying it.”) is almost identical to the one released this year. One year later the

company released an ad which read, “We think women should have a choice when it comes to being pregnant. Barefoot is another story.”

“Over the years I’ve used my brand platform to raise awareness about vital social issues to remind people that it’s not just what they look like on the outside, but who

they are on the inside; and not just what they stand in, but what they stand for,” Cole said. “When I first started out, the means of communicating we have today didn’t exist.

Autumn 2011 Special Reports Page 5

So in this new age of social media, I wanted to use this

campaign to reenergize a debate with customers and like

minded individuals around certain provocative, and at the

same time, defining social issues.”

More ads that take a stand.More ads that take a stand.More ads that take a stand.More ads that take a stand.

Abortion:Abortion:Abortion:Abortion: “It’s“It’s“It’s“It’s aaaa woman’swoman’swoman’swoman’s rightrightrightright totototo choose.choose.choose.choose. AfterAfterAfterAfter all,all,all,all, she’sshe’sshe’sshe’s thethethethe oneoneoneone carryingcarryingcarryingcarrying it.”,it.”,it.”,it.”, andandandand “We“We“We“We thinkthinkthinkthink womenwomenwomenwomen shouldshouldshouldshould havehavehavehave aaaa rightrightrightright totototo choosechoosechoosechoose whenwhenwhenwhen itititit comescomescomescomes totototo

beingbeingbeingbeing pregnant.pregnant.pregnant.pregnant. BarefootBarefootBarefootBarefoot isisisis anotheranotheranotheranother story.”story.”story.”story.” ●●●● NationalNationalNationalNational Healthcare:Healthcare:Healthcare:Healthcare: “A“A“A“A nationalnationalnationalnational planplanplanplan totototo provideprovideprovideprovide heelingheelingheelingheeling totototo all.all.all.all. WhyWhyWhyWhy didn’tdidn’tdidn’tdidn’t wewewewe thinkthinkthinkthink ofofofof that?…”that?…”that?…”that?…”

GunGunGunGun Control:Control:Control:Control: “Regardless“Regardless“Regardless“Regardless ofofofof thethethethe rightrightrightright totototo bearbearbearbear arms,arms,arms,arms, wewewewe inininin nononono waywaywayway condonecondonecondonecondone

thethethethe rightrightrightright totototo barebarebarebare feet…”feet…”feet…”feet…” ●●●● CapitalCapitalCapitalCapital Punishment:Punishment:Punishment:Punishment: “1“1“1“1 inininin 27272727 peoplepeoplepeoplepeople executedexecutedexecutedexecuted isisisis laterlaterlaterlater provenprovenprovenproven innocent.”innocent.”innocent.”innocent.”

Homelessness:Homelessness:Homelessness:Homelessness: “Despite“Despite“Despite“Despite ourourourour currencurrencurrencurrentttt economy,economy,economy,economy, moremoremoremore homelesshomelesshomelesshomeless thanthanthanthan

fortunesfortunesfortunesfortunes areareareare beingbeingbeingbeing mademademademade everyeveryeveryevery day.day.day.day. ☺☺☺☺…”,…”,…”,…”, “This“This“This“This isisisis nononono timetimetimetime forforforfor coldcoldcoldcold feet.feet.feet.feet. HelpHelpHelpHelp usususus supportsupportsupportsupport NY’sNY’sNY’sNY’s Homeless…”,Homeless…”,Homeless…”,Homeless…”, andandandand “There“There“There“There areareareare tootootootoo manymanymanymany peoplepeoplepeoplepeople whowhowhowho wouldwouldwouldwould

lovelovelovelove totototo bebebebe inininin youryouryouryour shows.shows.shows.shows. DuringDuringDuringDuring thethethethe monthmonthmonthmonth ofofofof February,February,February,February, we’llwe’llwe’llwe’ll givegivegivegive youyouyouyou 20%20%20%20%

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needsneedsneedsneeds them…”them…”them…”them…”

GunGunGunGun Control:Control:Control:Control: “4,000“4,000“4,000“4,000 kidskidskidskids dieddieddieddied fromfromfromfrom gunsgunsgunsguns lastlastlastlast year.year.year.year. ThisThisThisThis isisisis aaaa signsignsignsign forforforfor

change…”,change…”,change…”,change…”, “The“The“The“The familyfamilyfamilyfamily gungungungun isisisis moremoremoremore likelylikelylikelylikely totototo killkillkillkill youyouyouyou thanthanthanthan aaaa stranger.stranger.stranger.stranger. ToToToTo bebebebe awareawareawareaware isisisis moremoremoremore impoimpoimpoimportantrtantrtantrtant thanthanthanthan whatwhatwhatwhat youyouyouyou wear…”,wear…”,wear…”,wear…”, andandandand “Regardless“Regardless“Regardless“Regardless ofofofof thethethethe rightrightrightright totototo bearbearbearbear arms,arms,arms,arms, wewewewe inininin nononono waywaywayway condonecondonecondonecondone thethethethe rightrightrightright totototo barebarebarebare feet…”feet…”feet…”feet…”

ReactionReactionReactionReaction

Predictably, “Where do you stand?” opened to mixed

reviews. Abortion apologists, gun control advocates, ho-mosexual groups and anti-war activists love the ads. Those who hold opposing points of view do not. But many people think the ads will be hurtful and offensive.

“I don’t mind designer clothes,” wrote Thomas Peters on

the American Papist website (catholicvote.org), “but Kenneth Cole’s campaign comparing the ‘right’ of wom-en to chose [sic] to have an abortion with the ‘right’ of women to choose which handbag they buy is just ridicu-lous. More than ridiculous—it’s [sic] morally unseri-ousness [sic].” Thomas said the video’s depiction of a

woman “anguishing over a decision—we think the deci-sion to abort or keep her baby—then she walks over and

picks up a handbag. Apparently that was the choice which

was tearing her up inside.”

Thomas quoted feminist Naomi Wolfe who, in 2004, said, “I used to think of abortion as being somewhat trivial; the moral equivalent of serious root canal dentist-ry.” He said one “won’t find many pro-aborts being so

flippant about abortion now, at least in public when they

argue for legal abortion ‘rights’. Kenneth Cole evidently hasn’t caught up, despite all of its efforts to be contempo-rary and trendy.”

Thomas had more to say about Kenneth Cole’s ad:

As part of this campaign, Kenneth Cole has a series of “debates” surrounding “pro-choice” issues, such as “allowing a minor to have

an abortion” and “keeping abortion regulated and safe.” How does

Kenneth Cole think abortion can ever be truly made safe when we

have to worry about minors getting abortions? I guess they’re too

cool to worry about questions like that.

The current debate is “Making it the government’s right to choose.” Frankly, I have no idea what that is supposed to mean…Normally I love rocking abortion-related polls toward the pro-life side but this

time around I see no reason to give Kenneth Cole more attention

than I already have.

If you feel compelled to, however, you’re welcome to leave a com-ment. I would say something like this: Comparing abortion to shop-ping is totally offensive to me. Because I believe in supporting

women to choose LIFE I’m choosing NOT to support you. Every-one who buys from you had a mother who chose life. Maybe your next campaign should focus on honoring them.

Eric Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League told “Fox

News” that the ad makes abortion seem insignificant. Popular pro-life blogger Jill Stanek commented on the

campaign to The Christian Post:

It’s interesting that men are only told to shut up about abortion

when they’re pro-life. But here we have a male fashion designer I expect even pro-choice women would like to shut up.

Kenneth Cole is out of touch and behind the times. Even abortion

proponents these days freely acknowledge abortion is a difficult choice, certainly meriting more consideration than choosing a

handbag, no matter what the snooty label or ridiculous price. Here’s to Cole’s campaign falling flat, resulting in purchases of his

label being safe and legal but rare.

Sarah Erdeich thinks the ad encourages free thought. “We

live in a society that shies away from talking about abor-tion in movies and on television; we have numerous poli-ticians that are eager to strip funding from Planned Par-enthood,” she told The Christian Post. “If Kenneth Cole

can help normalize discussions about abortion rights and

their precarious place in our society, then I’m all for it.” Radical feminist Anne Enke had a mixed reaction. Like

pro-life activists, she is “highly critical” of the company because the video trivializes abortion. But her logic is, well, unique. “To suggest that abortion is the equivalent

Autumn 2011 Special Reports Page 6

of deciding which handbag to buy is a travesty and reaf-firms the stereotype that pro-choice women are total nar-cissists, which we are not,” the marketing queen wrote.

While critical of the abortion-related video, Enke is

otherwise supportive of the Kenneth Cole ad campaign:

Kenneth Cole is saying indirectly…that if he steps up to raise our consciousness on key social issues in SATC (“Sex and the

City”)—you are the sum of your stilettos [sic] America—Cole

hopes you will buy his brand. This is the Kenneth Cole I have

known and supported….

Smart Sensuality consumers…want more than an expensive

luxury handbag. We expect some kind of social conscience out of our brands.

While Cole wholeheartedly backs legal abortion, some fashion insiders say he is simply using controversy to sur-vive in a bad economy and highly competitive market. (Annual revenue for Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. has consistently exceeded $450 million.) For example, Leah

Chernikoff, executive editor of a website that covers the

fashion industry, told “Fox News” that Cole’s campaign is an “obvious” public relations move. Stylist and fashion guru Mary Alice Stephenson agreed. “Nowadays it’s a

battle for the buck. Whether you love it or you hate it, it

does make you look and that’s what designers need to do

because these days the clothes just don’t sell themselves.”

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Cole’s left-leaning views have not been enough to make him immune to criticism unrelated to fashion and market-ing. In February 2011 Cole posted a message on Twitter that referenced the anti-government protests in Egypt. “Millions are in uproar in…Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online….” he

wrote. A link to the company website was included.

Accused of being insensitive to the seriousness of what was taking place in Egypt, Cole posted another message intended to serve as something of an apology. “Re Egypt tweet: we weren’t intending to make light of a serious situation. We understand the sensitivity of this historic

moment.”

Cole posted a more extensive apology on his Facebook page. “I apologize to everyone who was offended by my

insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt. I’ve ded-icated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a

nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate.”

The fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks gave Cole another opportunity to make a similar-ly tactless remark. “Important moments like this are a

time to reflect,” he told the New York Daily News. “To re-mind us, sometimes, that it’s not only important what you

wear, but it’s also important to be aware.”

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While Cole’s statements relating to events in Egypt and

September 11, 2001 were surely not intended to offend, the same cannot be said of the new ad campaign. No apol-ogy will be forthcoming. It is not as though Cole cares what pro-life advocates think or feel. In fact, he probably relishes any opportunity to get under our collective skin.

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It is important to recognize that Kenneth Cole is free to

use his money—personal or corporate—in any legal way

he sees fit. If that means exercising rights in a manner we

find offensive, it is the “price” we pay for living in a de-mocracy.

Nothing about this campaign will change even one mind. (This is also true when any celebrity speaks on the issue.) Changing minds is not the goal. The campaign is intend-ed to generate controversy that will bring attention to the

brands sold by Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. But the

creation of controversy requires, to at least some degree, our participation.

What if the most we just said was how sorry we feel for

the post-abortive women who will be upset by the insen-sitive publicity stunt? What if we just said how sad it is

that a filthy rich fashion designer would use attention-grabbing tactics to put more money in his pocket, even though it could emotionally traumatize many women? What if we just simply ignored such gimmicks? What if?

– Douglas R. Scott, Jr. is president of Life Decisions International

Special Reports, an official periodical of Life Decisions International (LDI), is pub-lished four times per year. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the

views of every LDI Partner or members of its Board of Directors/Advisors or staff. This

publication may be copied or quoted so long as appropriate citation(s) are included. Write: P.O. Box 439, Front Royal, VA 22630-0009 (USA). Phone: (540) 631-0380. Many past editions of Special Reports are available on LDI’s website (fightpp.org).

© 2011 Life Decisions International