Abercrombie & Fitch boycott-Truth!

The Lt. Governor of Illinois is Leading a Boycott Against Abercrombie & Fitch-Truth!

Summary of eRumor
An email said to be from Lt. Governor Corinne Wood urges a boycott of Abercrombie & Fitch.

The Truth
This is true.

A website had been set up by Lt. Governor Wood, but it was somehow taken over by a porn outfit, so we have removed the link.

For the last several catalogs, there has been controversy over the content. In addition to the action by the Illinois Lt. Governor, the Chicago City Council, which is not a hotbed of Conservatism, voted unanimously (49-0) to join the boycott. Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm called the catalog "Playboy for kids" in an article in USA Today from 12/2/99.

Some of the scenes in the catalog (some of which have been seen by TruthOrFiction.com):

...A picture of a completely nude teenage boy climbing onto a dock (rear view).
...A picture of a nude teenage boy posing nude as a model for a painting class.
...The Christmas 1998 Quarterly had teens undressing each another, four girls in bed with a male holding his boxers, and a nude teen girl riding an elephant.
...The Spring Break 99 Quarterly had a centerfold. It was of a nude boy and girl carrying their surfboard. It also included a topless girl seductively hugging another girl, and three nude boys on the beach.

This story is from 2001. Last update 10/28/03

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

From: postmaster@teamcorinne.latestedition.com

Cc: recipient list not shown:

Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 3:05 PM

Subject: Your help is needed! Take one more step to help our A&F boycott

Thank you for taking the time to sign our online boycott of Abercrombie & Fitch. Since announcing our effort in mid-June, you and 11,300 people from all 50 states have joined this boycott. We should be proud of our efforts to protect our children from this wayward corporation.

Our goal from the outset has been to raise awareness of A&F's sleazy marketing practices and we have experienced great success. National television, radio and newspapers have covered the issue, enabling us to spread the word to as wide an audience as possible.

Without your help and the help of the broad coalition of support organizations, our effort would never have had the success it has over the past month. However, our effort is far from over. A&F's new fall catalog proves that they still don't get it.

That is why I'm writing you today. Your help is needed again to continue to turn up the heat on A&F.

I ask you to take one more easy step. E-mail 5 - 10 of your family and friends today and encourage them to long on to http://www.stopAandF.com and sign the on-line petition.

In the near future, we will turn all of these signatures over to officials at A&F to help them see that there are many parents and concerned individuals who are disgusted with their business practices.

If you act today to urge your family and friends to take this one simple step and sign the online petition at http://www.stopAandF.com, you will help ensure the success of this effort.

Thanks again for your support. Together we can continue to make a difference for our children.

Corinne Wood

llinois Lt. Governor