Lego boycott Daily Mail as #StopFundingHate campaign gathers momentum
Danish toy firm Lego has announced it will stop advertising in the Daily Mail after companies were called on to pull their adverts from right-wing newspapers amid recent controversy around negative coverage of child refugees and Brexit.
Lego, along with other major companies including John Lewis and Waitrose, faced mounting pressure from the ‘Stop Funding Hate’ campaign, which aims to “take on the divisive hate campaigns” of right-wing newspapers the Sun, Daily Mail and Daily Express by urging advertisers to pull their support.
READ MORE: #StopFundingHate: Twitter users demand Daily Mail boycott over Brexit ruling coverage
In a tweet responding to the campaign, the toy company stated that they “have finished the agreement with The Daily Mail and are not planning any future promotional activity with the newspaper."
@StopFundingHate We have finished the agreement with The Daily Mail and are not planning any future promotional activity with the newspaper
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) November 12, 2016
The move was praised by campaigners after the publication ran controversial front pages on three High Court judges who ruled in favor of Parliament having a say on Brexit.
Breaking news - @LEGO_Group state that they have no plans to run promos with the Daily Mail "for the foreseeable future" pic.twitter.com/RatHcbgiNE
— Stop Funding Hate (@StopFundingHate) November 12, 2016
@LEGO_Group@StopFundingHate I will be buying Lego for Christmas 🎄 Respect!
— Eddie Briggs (@eddiesurfs) November 12, 2016
While Lego is the first company to halt advertising, the Co-Op Group is also said to be “reviewing” its contracts.
The public face of the Walkers Crisps brand, Gary Lineker, was also targeted by the Sun after he criticized the “hideously racist and utterly heartless” reactions to the UK accepting child refugees.
The former footballer turned broadcaster, condemned the Daily Mail’s front-page spread on the High Court judges.
The front page attacks on the 3 judges for basically just doing their job is scary. This is fast becoming a dystopian land.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 3, 2016
The newspaper labelled Lineker as a “jug-eared leftie luvvie” in response and called for the BBC to fire him from the ‘Match of the Day’ program.
Must say though, I'm rather chuffed to have been called a 'luvvie'.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 21, 2016
My personal views were made on Twitter not TV. Not like you to be inaccurate! pic.twitter.com/Zkmpwwh6lZ
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 24, 2016
Lineker was subjected to a torrent of abuse following his support for refugees.
Still wearing my tin hat. Insult me, disagree, argue, but don't say I'm not entitled to opine because I used to be a footballer. Ta.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 22, 2016
While tweeting his support for Lego, the presenter is also urging Walkers to stop advertising with the Sun.
@JWhite_DM@walkers_crisps@Tesco@vine already have.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 11, 2016
Brick by brick..... https://t.co/nEJMII9W66
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 12, 2016
Stop Funding Hate has vowed to continue pressuring other companies to drop their advertising campaigns with the controversial media outlets.
.@JohnLewisretail & @Waitrose, @LEGO_Group have listened their customers & done the right thing. Will you join them?https://t.co/T2FnfEoKGz
— Stop Funding Hate (@StopFundingHate) November 12, 2016
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