Dear John Deere, Don’t Back Away From Pride Events! We Love Hot Dudes And Tractors!
Scroll to end for more sexy guys and their tractors!
Bandt reports that John Deere has decided to pull its support from external social and cultural events, including Pride marches and parades. This move comes as the debate around the US election intensifies, reigniting culture wars across the nation.
“Diversity Quotas and Pronoun Identification Are Not Company Policy”
In a post on X, John Deere stated that “the existence of diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy.” The company added that it would “no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events.”
Despite this, John Deere emphasised that it is not abandoning diversity efforts entirely. The company said it “fundamentally believes that a diverse workforce enables us to best meet our customers’ needs and because of that we will continue to track and advance the diversity of our organisation.”
Controversy Over Little Rainbow Run Sponsorship
John Deere, a $61 billion-a-year company, faced public backlash for sponsoring Capital City Pride’s Little Rainbow Run, an event reportedly catering to children as young as three. The company also encouraged staff to use “preferred pronouns” to foster inclusivity.
Conservative politician Robby Starbuck led the campaign against John Deere’s policies. He took to social media, criticising the company’s “woke” policies. Starbuck has previously targeted Tractor Supply, another American brand, for its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Following his campaign, Tractor Supply announced the elimination of its diversity roles and goals.
“We Have Heard from Customers That We Have Disappointed Them”
Tractor Supply, responding to the backlash, stated, “We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart.” The company also announced it would no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign and would focus on “rural American priorities,” including education and veterans’ causes. It will no longer sponsor “nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns.”
“John Deere Seems to Have Forgotten Who Their Customers Are”
Robby Starbuck also criticised John Deere, claiming the company’s policies were “worse than Tractor Supply.” He stated, “John Deere seems to have forgotten who their customers are.”
Following John Deere’s announcement, Starbuck posted a series of screenshots with the message: “Wall Street is on notice. Corporate America is afraid of YOU. I’m just your instrument. Every woke company is wondering if they’re next.”
Several big brands that faced backlash for supporting Pride events last year have gone silent on social media this year as reported by Forbes. This includes companies like Nike, Target, Bud Light, and Disney, which have either pulled back their support or refrained from mentioning pride in their marketing efforts for 2024.
We Still Love You John Deere – And These Guys…
