#BoycottHersheys trend on Twitter is transphobic?

In celebration of International Women's Day, Hershey Canada features a trans woman Fae Johnstone in its latest advertisement. However, some social media users started a boycott trend against Hershey for featuring a trans woman.

Twitter users shared old screenshots of the trans woman that Hersheys chocolate is using as the face of their campaign for International Woman's Day! Fae Johnstone wants "a political environment in which TERFs (read: women) are so vilified.

Author Oli London tweeted "To celebrate International Women’s Day- Hersheys uses a MAN in their advert to advertise their new women’s chocolate range ‘Her For She’. This is a true insult to women! International Women’s Day is about celebrating the achievements of women not MEN!"

However, in a statement, the company said, "This year's HER for SHE initiative highlights five Canadian women working to build a better future through their passion, activism and work in their communities: Autumn Peltier, indigenous rights activist and water; Fae Johnstone, 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate; Rita Audi, gender equality and education activist; Naila Moloo, climate technology researcher; and Kélicia Massala, founder of Girl Up Québec."

The statement further added that "Hershey Canada worked with Toronto-based mural artist Gosia Komorski to bring to life the stories of the women in the limited-edition HERSHEY'S COOKIES N' CREME and HERSHEY'S WHOLE ALMOND bar"s.

"Investing in the right programs, initiatives and strategies with inclusion, equity and diversity are at the core of our business to make a difference and support our long-term business growth," said Michele Buck, CEO of The Hershey Company.

"Women's Story Month marks a deliberate moment in time to build on our year-long commitment to amplifying the powerful voices of women and girls around the world to blaze a path for everyone to succeed."

Boycott Hersheys

To show their outrage against the company, netizens took to Twitter and trended #BoycottHersheys.

Hersheys Canada has included a male in their promotional material for #Internationalwomensday Their number, for a text or a call is 1-800-468-1714 #boycotthersheys #nothankyou pic.twitter.com/mepj2NY5tN

— Miranda M 💚🤍💜🦖🇨🇦 (@Mirbee1111) March 2, 2023

I thought #BoycottHersheys would be about actual problems like their use of Child Slavery. It turned out to be Right-Wing TERFs spewing more hate because Hershey included a Trans Woman in their advertising. Buying more Hershey's tomorrow to show support for the LGBTQ Community. pic.twitter.com/xtHCE9RJ2y

— Felis Resisterus 🐀 Conspiracy Debunker (@AltLeloge) March 2, 2023

@Hersheys If you hire someone to represent you on International Womens Day who hates women & wants to shut us up can I DM you with the level of misogyny you are pushing?

You do realize that WOMEN, real ones, are the biggest purchasers of your product, right?#BoycottHersheys pic.twitter.com/GqvcWyZdvh

— Woman Trucker Realist Vegan Gun-Lover (@ToadHole1752) March 2, 2023

How does @Hersheys #CelebrateSHE ?!

By platforming a MAN!!!!
We see you & we’re fed up with this.#BoycottHersheys #hersheyshateswomen https://t.co/KpgsoeQbSC pic.twitter.com/d1U4n6OPo9

— Restatement Of The Obvious℠ (eff/right/off) (@RejektEvidence) March 2, 2023

#BoycottHersheys is trending and I thought it was about something horrible like Dole or Nestle has done.

Turns out it was transphobia because they used a trans woman in an ad.

There aren't even any legit arguments/complaints voiced. It's all just anti-trans hate. It's sad.

— MimCri (@MimCri_) March 2, 2023

Saw that #BoycottHersheys was trending. Exploitation? Nope. Human rights violations? Nope. Racism? Nope.

Just a bunch of TERFs making me wish I liked Hersheys so I could buy a bunch just to spite them. Oh well. I hope my kids like it b/c their baskets will be filled with it.

— Vikki Devine (@vikki_devine) March 2, 2023

A Twitter user wrote "Fae Johnstone is a pervert who promotes and condones pedophilia, among other things. Need proof? His organization wisdom2action funded THIS workshop, which advocates for a "pleasure based" approach to sex ed for youths, also, this:"

Fae Johnstone is a pervert who promotes and condones pedophilia, among other things. Need proof? His organization wisdom2action funded THIS workshop, which advocates for a "pleasure based" approach to sex ed for youths, also, this: pic.twitter.com/xswIZWECzd

— Woman gone astray (@WomanGoneAstray) March 2, 2023

Another user wrote "Look you do you, but this is so exhaustingly insulting to women. 50% of the population is female & on the one day supposed to celebrate us, @hersheys chooses to celebrate a male who presents according to feminine stereotypes."

#BoycottHersheys Apparently, they couldn’t find enough real women to use in a campaign for Women’s Day, so they picked a guy in a dress. #WomanFace
Here are their products. Easter is coming. Skip the @Hersheys pic.twitter.com/uobZrc8c7s

— Tishia (@TishiaIsMe) March 2, 2023

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