Piers Morgan blasts the Dolce and Gabbana boycott, says it’s another word for bullying
Piers Morgan has savaged the boycott of Dolce and Gabbana after the pair’s dismissal of ‘non-traditional’ families – claiming that a boycott is “just another word for bullying”.
Legendary fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana – who are gay themselves – made the controversial comments in an interview this week, when they said in part: “We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”
Sir Elton John – who has sons Zachary and Elijah with his husband David Furnish – told the pair: ” How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic’… your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again.”
Writing in the Mail, former journalist Piers Morgan said that while he supports gay rights and supports Sir Elton, he believes boycotts are “bullying”.
He said: “Where I disagree with Elton is his call for a boycott of Dolce and Gabbana. We seem to be living in a celebrity-fuelled boycott society these days. Barely a week goes by without some star somewhere demanding we all boycott something.
“Recently, Hollywood decided to boycott the Beverly Hills Hotel because its owner, the Sultan of Brunei, introduced draconian – and outrageous – new anti-gay laws.
“I didn’t join the boycott because I didn’t see why the hard-working staff there should suffer for the political actions of a boss who lives thousands of miles away.”
He added: “Boycotting Dolce and Gabbana may make Elton and a few celebrities feel better, but all it will do is damage the livelihoods of thousands of innocent Dolce employees and it won’t make any difference to the debate on gay rights.
“What WILL make a difference is honest, sensible, passionate argument.
“There are tens of millions of people around the world who still feel, many from religious convictions, deeply uncomfortable about the concept gay marriage and gay parents.
“The best way to alleviate that discomfort is not by strangling their rights to freedom of thought or speech, or demonizing them. But by making them see that their fears are unfounded.
“If I were Elton John, I’d stop this silly call for a boycott, and invite Dolce and Gabbana round to one of his houses for to let them see with their own eyes what a great dad he is and how happy and well adjusted his kids are.
“Elton’s best weapon in this debate is practicing what he preaches, with demonstrable success – not trying to stop others from having an opinion.
“I’m also launching my own hashtag today: #BoycottAllBoycotts.”
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34 Comments
D-boy
March 17, 13:57Well said….
My Chemical Romance
March 17, 13:59Thank You. If someone talk they will say the person is saying nonsense because the person’s opinion is different from others. The only part of D&G’s statement that I don’t agree with is ” ….No chemical offsprings and rented uterus…”
Khaleesi
March 17, 14:19Abeg this goon shoould goan rest #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana #BoycottDolceAndGabbana
Those comments by D & C were utterly stupid and shocking considering that they came from individuals who have benefited tremendously from living in a society where gay rights are upheld and respected.
Teflondon
March 17, 14:22Kindly refer to my previous comments on the previous articles on this issue.. This was exactly what I said. It’s almost as if someone gave piers Morgan my transcript on this issue to read. First I will ever agree with this man on anything (as he is an arsenal fan and I am a Utd fan)
Like I said earlier what Elton John did was very uncalled for just as D&G.
Damil
March 17, 14:22Well said. Maturity of mind
Max
March 17, 14:35He should stop blathering like a toothless worm. Elton doesn’t need to invite them over to seek validation from them or prove to him what a great daddy he is.
He has a personal problem with the word “boycott” which he needs to deal with without meddling in matters like this.
He shld go and take several seats in a stadium.
Max
March 17, 14:38PP did you notice something?
All internalized Homophobes we have on this blog are finally poking out their little heads.
I just saw what you did now… You smart ass.. Keep doing this and a “chemical baby” will be dumped at your doorstep one day…☺
pinkpanthertb
March 17, 15:03Hahahahahahahaa. I actually burst out into laughter right in the muddle of work when I read this comment. My colleague be giving me side eye.
chestnut
March 17, 15:47Oh My God Max! I don’t know how many times I’m going to say this: a difference of opinion on a certain subject is NOT “internalised homophobia”! This is the “bullying” we’re talking about here. Someone cannot give an opinion that differs from yours without being tagged an “internal homophobe”? People’s views will differ from yours from time to time, that doesn’t make them any less “homophilic” than u are. Pls,I really,really, REALLY wish we would retire that tired,abused and grossly misused phrase! Hian! If u don’t like d colour pink,u have, “internalised homophobia”; if u don’t listen to Beyonce,u have “internalised homophobia”; if u enjoy straight porn more than gay porn,u have “internalised homophobia”! Wetin sef? For the straight ppl that support gay-marriage and gay-parenting,are they any less straight?have they turned their back on heterosexuality? Are they accused of “internalised heterophobia”?
Teflondon
March 17, 16:24Preach chestnut!! Keep preaching the good news!!
Sinnex
March 17, 17:42The thing tire me.
Some people have made themselves Mayor and Class Captain of this blog. If your opinion in anyway deviates from what they say then all hell would be let loosed.
They forget that the only thing that we have in common is our sexuality which is less than 20% of our lives, yet, we are expected to think in a particular way and if you don’t, then you’d be termed a pretender or homophobe.
Deola
March 17, 17:46‘For the straight ppl that support gay-marriage and gay-parenting,are they any less straight?have they turned their back on heterosexuality? Are they accused of “internalised heterophobia”?’.
Straight people support gay marriages doesn’t make them heterophobic, this is true.
But they didn’t stop supporting heterosexual marriages either.
Then there is gay people who see the heterosexual marriage as natural and traditional and for all intents and purposes are all in its support, but then they don’t agree with gay marriage…
You can’t have it both ways. Whether this is internalized homophobia or not that’s left for gay guys like D&G to look inward and figure out.
McGray
March 17, 14:41That was exactly what i said earlier. Elton has his own freedom of speech, but taking it to their career is something i have problem with. **singing and dancing with my Buba and Okpu mmee** #Boycotteltonjohn
McGray
March 17, 14:42#Boycotteltonjohn ooooo. Pls #boycotteltonjohn joor
McGray
March 17, 14:50It’s not abt internalised homophobia, some ppl base their opinions on a sound judgement, not minding if the opinions favor them or not. If i had grown to a two dad without a mummy i don’t think i would have loved it.
Teflondon
March 17, 14:51My earlier comments just incase you didn’t see them….
I am beginning to be afraid that.. Those with different opinions on this blog will be intentionally or unintentionally fizzled out of here..
*this is my thought*
News flash people!!
“This too shall pass”
Nothing will happen to D&G and everyone will end up going back to thier holes…. #BrinkBackOurGirls anybody???
I don’t in any way support the comments being made by D&G esp about the kids.. But it’s still thier opinion and they have every right to view it.. Whether it’s for or against LGBT. Am very sure if they had made comments that LGBT community were cool with there would be no uproor among the str8 folks.
I still don’t understand “Our” (LGBT) need to always fight and protest what isn’t in our favor.. Can’t we just live and let live, can’t we just live a quiet and normal life without the need to be defensive at any given opportunity.
**checks time on my Dolce.Gabbana DG 7 wrist watch**
this people make good stuffs and I’ll never support that #BoycottDolce&Gabbana movement
Running down another mans business because his opinion doesn’t tally with yours??
Talk about double standard…
All in all its my opinion just as D&G viewed theirs **sips coffee**
Khaleesi
March 17, 15:14you have a right to air your opinion, but you must also remember that when you’re an international celebrity with a fan base numbering in the millions, you must be extra careful about airing those opinions!
Mercury
March 18, 09:58Do I know you!, I have a Teflondon who is argumentative as fuck, well mostly political sha, but you almost sound like him.
Teflondon
March 18, 10:07@mercury maybe it’s me.. Maybe not.. I’ll leave you to keep guessing
McGray
March 17, 15:06Please where is my Chizzie?? *sips tea*
McGray
March 17, 15:07Teflondon You are a Darling.
Teflondon
March 17, 16:27@Mcgray *blows kisses*
kendigin
March 17, 15:08Some people are just ridiculous and live in a bubble of their own.
Evil only thrives when good people shut up. It is true that D&G employees may suffer as a result, but you don’t change things by living in a bubble and hoping to God that what someone else says or does will not affect you. There must be some direct affirmative action to initiate change and people who make homophobic slurs must be made to account for them. The only way to stop hate and ignorance is to make people responsible for their actions and words.
So Mr Morgan, I think you should get out of your ass. If it worked for racial slurs (Paula Deen and Tommy Hilfiger), then why is it not applicable to homophobes?
Khaleesi
March 17, 15:28i still cant get the insidiousness of those comments out of my head “rented uterus” ” chemical babies” “natural flow”, am soooo pained, i could weep!!! Do those two faded ranting queens realise that many more straight couples than gay ones have their babies via IVF??, what exactly is natural??? humans have always evolved so what is natural today will likely not be natural in 100 years from today, e.g it is now normal for women to give birth via Caesarean section (CS), is that what nature intended? how come no one condemns births via caesarean sections?, humans were designed to walk about on two feet, how come we invented vehicles and airplanes and traverse the globe at speeds which nature never intended, which by the way is why our bodies suffer such severe damage in car or air crashes, because nature never intended for us to travel that fast!! yet we do!!, nature intended for children to be born one at a time, yet every now and then, twins, triplets and other multiple births occur, heck, our ancestors murdered twins for centuries until very recently, perhaps in their own twisted way, they understood that multiple births were against the law of nature, nature isnt and will never be perfect; its a fact of life. “Natural” is a blurry, shifty, hard-to-grasp concept as it changes from time to time, from age to age and from place to place!!!
I just cant with these two homophobe gays especially considering that they have benefited so tremendously from living in a society where the rights of gays are upheld and protected, D & G ought to be boycotted and guided into a rapid nosedive to its richly deserved oblivion!! As international celebrities who command a cult – like following and who have benefited tremendously from the benefits of a tolerant and open – minded society, they MUST be held to a very high standard of responsibility … So Mr Morgan; shut your prissy British foodhole and go have a cup of tea ***rolls mascara-ed eyes from Aba to CNN Hq in Atlanta**
chestnut
March 17, 15:30So Piers Morgan haff chook head inside d matter? Na wah o! Dis D and G issue has grown bigger than I thought it would; the world hasn’t been dis fired up since d blue/black/white/gold dress!
pinkpanthertb
March 17, 16:32Hahahahaa. Chestnut, don’t even start.
JustJames
March 17, 15:43I honestly cannot agree with the statement they made about traditional families and whatever. And please those of you saying it is not natural remember we are not natural too in the eyes of Nigerians. You can only not imagine life without your mother’s cause you were blessed to have caring mothers. Sure,maybe some kids would would feel they they are missing out on something with two dads but in some years time it’d be no biggie just like it’s no biggie to kiss your bf on the streets of new York.
As for the boycott thing.. Elton decided to boycott d&g and world followed suit. Since d&g can say what they like then the rest of the world can can react how they like too. Sooner or later all of this will end and people will move on to the next trending hash tag.
There really is no need for insults or feeling disappointed. Opinions will differ.. Ain’t nothing we can do about it.
Mitch
March 17, 15:46Boycotts. Boycotts. And More Boycotts! Elton did a good thing calling Domenico and Stefano out on the idiocy of their statements. However, the boycott thing is the one part I feel is unnecessary. DandG would get what’s due them. Celebs should just, in my opinion, steer clear of the boycott talk. Rain abuses on them all you want, just don’t destroy them in the process. #MyOwnTwoKoboShaa
Deola
March 17, 16:21Always admired Piers Morgan, just like Wendy he says it as he see it without caring about the popular opinion.
I didn’t agree with anything that was said by D&G but it’s their personal opinion and they have a right to that opinion and a right to air it.
But you see, if said opinion was voiced by an ordinary Joe like myself, then it wouldn’t be such a big deal, D&G are public figures, they should know better, and they should also know that like their claim for it being heir personal opinion ,the public will also have an opinion about your opinion.
They went after gay marriage and that’s nothing new, if they had stopped here, no one would have taken any serious offense because it’s nothing new( we’ll be shocked that it’s coming from another gay person but we will move on), but they then went after the children and by doing that they made it personal, make no mistake they are the bullies here, not some hashtag that would die out in coming weeks like others before it, their hurtful comments about those children is something no one would forget anytime soon.
Elton John’s reaction is also normal, if you read his original comments there was nothing in there about his marriage, it was the comments about his children that pissed him off. It’s a normal reaction, someone basically calls you’re children less than normal, ofcourse you take offense and tey and hit them back as personal as they Hit you. I know if I was Elton, this would have been my reaction.
There was a previous comment here about a bread seller, now if said bread seller called your child something offensive, I am pretty sure all of you here campaigning for Elton’s head wouldn’t patronize said bread seller again, you simply find another place to by your bread, not because you don’t believe in his right to say offensive things about your child, but because your immediate reaction is to protect and defend your child.
The difference here is that while Elton’s reaction was normal, also holds its ramifications, he is also a public figure and like D&G he should have thought twice before starting what he did.
This also isn’t a free speech issue and this guys trying to make it seem as if it is by aligning this with the Charlie Hebdo situation once again shows that they are less than smart. You went out and aired your opinion, surely you didn’t think it was gonna be all sunshine and rainbows, Elton’s reaction is also his right, if he chooses to boycott then good for him, but he has sway over a lot of people and people joining in his movement now makes D&G seem like the victim, which they aren’t.
As for you guys talking about boycotting Elton John, since when does two wrongs make a right??
A simple apology regarding the children comment would make this go away, but i suspect these people aren’t very smart so…that’s a long thing.
What both sides need to realize is that they are both public figures, they should say whatever they want to say, but don’t come and cry foul play when the reaction you get to your opinion is not what you want. You can’t eat your cake and have it.
While it looks like Elton is the bully here, the real bully here is D&G and their distasteful comments and the ramifications it could have on unsuspecting innocent IVF kids…
#BoycottBoycottD&G
pinkpanthertb
March 17, 16:51Deola, thou art indeed wise.
Peak
March 17, 17:56Chai* grab my sweet cup cake and hug the day light out of him*
Being a punlic figure or a celebrity comes with a lot of resposibility. You don’t just become an advocare or voice for the people, and if these ppl are misrepresented, you would be held accountable and the surest way to do that is to knock u off ur pedastle! DG went way overboard! I’m sorry I don’t care what anyone has to say! Like Deola said! If someone calls ur child ugly or a bastard you will march there, deal with the person 1st and ask questions later, we ve seen this happened around us so many times.we even boycott certain places just because the owner or a worker looked at us funny, talk more of calling innocent children “a comibination of scientific elements” Mba! That down right cruel and unthinkably evil.
Elton reacted like any parent would. He wants to hurt them as much as they did others. I was not directly involved but I felt pained when I read about it. Imagine the kind of pain ppl who had babies through those “untraditional methods” would feel. Imagine the kind of self hate some of these children would grow up to live with. D and G just provided extra armament for bullies to use in schools and neighbourhoods against kids of gay couples. Its not just an opinion, cos opinions become statements if its put forwad by a celebrity.
I totally get morgan though. Employees would suffer and bear the burden of the bad decisions their boss made. Two wrongs don’t make a right. But calling elton a bully? That’s just taking sides. He has valid points that I agree with wholesomely but calling elton a bully, is just…………………well I will just leave it at that till I come up with a politically correct word to fill that gap. Make no mistake DG are the bullies here. A simple apology will make this go away. The stain will remain, but I won’t be so glaring.
Jeova Sanctus Unus
March 18, 05:53If you consider that ‘monsieurs’ Dolce & Gabanna were once a couple, then you see their folly.
But, I don’t know about D&G and homophobia but surely supporters of the anti-boycott have some serious issues. I doubt most of these people cried wolf when the West froze accounts of foreign leaders who didn’t agree with them. If we allowed those infringements to happen without screaming ‘BULLY!’, then we shouldn’t dare mouth anything to Mr John.
D&G employees are only gonna suffer the much D&G wants them to. No one should blame Elton John for shit. I didn’t need Mr John to say shit before checked to make sure I had no D&G shit on me. I can’t keep giving my money to a corporation I know will use my own money to lobby against people’s rights & happiness. It is clear who they send checks to when it cones to elections or legislations.
If an average individual had said what D&G said, averages people would only rat their asses off. Then again, If an Average Joe had initiated the boycott against D&G, I doubt he would’ve been tagged a bully. Public figures are public figures for a reason.
Mr Morgan didn’t consider the families that are hurt by the utterance. The families that could be hurt in the future because of the utterance. The young kids of gay/infertile parents who may read that mumbo jumbo. There’s only one victim here, and no s/he doesn’t work at D&G.
If D&G won’t check their words before they spill them, them I wouldn’t expect Elton John to weigh his blow before he deals it. Sometimes 2 wrongs actually make a right, it took 2 world wars to birth the UN. It took me 2 rounds to hit more-gasm. And it may take you 2 reads to understand this comment.
#Boycunt
Ruby
March 18, 09:24Oh Jeova Sanctus Unus…
Boycunt, More-gasm… You are a mess for this.
I agree with you totally, I don’t blame Eltona for any blow he’s dealt and I hope families who “rented” uteruses or have Chemical babies be they “Traditional” or Non-Traditional can speak up against D&G and put them in check. Maybe that will jolt them back to reality.
Ruby
March 18, 09:16Being a lover of children myself, I’d go ballistic were someone to say anything remotely offensive about any child related or associated with me.
That said, Piers Morgana *if I dare say so* D&G should have thought this through before yapping but Noooo… Their Testosterone Bloated Egos wouldn’t let them so stop ya yapping about bullying and go sit on the Thames river bridge if that will help widen your perspective.
Eltona John, Mama I understand how you feel and I support #boycottD&G *i never really liked them anyways (batting Eyelids @ Zuhair Murad *the man after ma Fashion Heart).