Petition Urges Macy's to Dump Donald Trump Ads, Merchandise
Cher tweets outrage, is among petition's nearly 500,000 signatures
Nov. 13, 2012— -- A petition urging Macy's to "dump" Donald Trump and his branded goods from its advertisements and stores could reach 500,000 signatures today as some consumers react to the retail giant's relationship with the controversial critic of President Obama. Among those consumers was Cher, the singer and actress, who aired her frustrations via Twitter on Sunday.
"Racist cretin who'd lie like 'his rug' to get some cheap press! I can't believe Macy's thinks he's the right 'man' 2 represent their name!"
The so-called "Dump Trump" petition, which users sign through the site signon.org, was organized by 30-year-old lawyer Angelo Carusone. Carusone cites Trump's post-election tweets, one of which urged a "march on Washington" after the election. Carusone said he also believes a Macy's Christmas ad in which Trump doubts a man who claims to be Santa, presumably in a nod to Trump's "birther" argument that Obama may not have been born in the U.S., has helped encourage people to sign his petition.
"When I saw Trump's repeated calls for revolution on Twitter and the $5 million birther stunt, I realized, as a lover of Macy's, that the company was getting publicity from Trump's chicanery consequence-free," Carusone told ABCnews.com.
Carusone organized a similar "Stop Beck" effort in 2009, which focused on another controversial figure, Glenn Beck, and urged his advertisers to reassess their relationship with Beck. Carusone called his campaigns "advertiser education efforts."
"I don't believe people really care what Trump has to say," Carusone said, "This is about Macy's benefitting from Trump's unacceptable behavior."
Macy's released a statement Tuesday evening that distanced the company from Trump's statements without naming him.
"Many of the individuals associated with products sold at Macy's -- or at any retailer, for that matter -- express personal opinions that are not related to the merchandise we sell or to the philosophies of our company."
Trump has not spoken publicly about the petition. However, the business mogul did respond to Cher's comments via his own Twitter account.
"@cher -- I don't wear a "rug" -- it's mine," Trump tweeted Tuesday, "And I promise not to talk about your massive plastic surgeries that didn't work."
Earlier Tuesday, Trump also tweeted, "My fragrance -- "Success" -- is flying off the shelves @Macys The perfect Christmas gift!"
Trump's Twitter account has nearly 2 million followers.