• Brandweek, Thursday, December 8, 2005 12 PM

Ford Motor Co.’s spin doctors are working overtime in the wake of reports that the automaker cancelled advertising in gay-oriented publications under threat of a product boycott from a conservative organization. A Ford spokesman confirmed that the company’s Jaguar and Land Rover brands will no longer advertise in publications such as The Advocate, a move that has gay and lesbian groups up in arms.  However, the spokesman denied that the change was sparked by complaints from the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association. The spokesman acknowledged that Ford had recently met with AFA representatives but said that was because local dealers had asked Ford “to get involved.” He said Ford met with AFA and discussed Ford's employee relations and diversity hiring, as well as where Ford advertises and its advertising content. “We said we wouldn't discuss hiring policies and that we reserve the right to advertise where we please,” said the spokesman. “We agreed to strive to avoid offending anyone in our ads, and … not be seen as advocating for a lifestyle, social issue, or moral question, directly or indirectly.”  He said the two brands “will be doing less overall advertising, and [The Advocate] is one [publication] they won't be advertising in.”

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