Humbled 'Pride': Target, Apple, and Disney among companies scaling back annual LGBTQ sale-a-bration



Some things just go together: President Trump and Diet Coke. Tom Cruise and death-defying stunts. Target and Pride Month.

Since launching its first campaign a decade ago, the big-box retailer has been one of the most eager participants in the annual weeks-long orgy of LGBTQ "representation," which finds free-spending, virtue-signaling brands sponsoring events, releasing collections of Pride-themed products, and festooning their logos with rainbows.

Many big corporate sponsors have either pulled out entirely, scaled back, or asked that their donations not be publicly disclosed.

Perhaps no company has gained more publicity from the summer same-sex sale-a-bration than Target. It's also attracted plenty of backlash, most notably a highly publicized consumer boycott two years ago.

But nothing could have prepared one Target shopper for what she encountered upon entering the store last week.

"Tuck-friendly" women's bathing suits? "Queer"-affirming children's apparel?

That's so 2023.

This year Target has gone viral for indulging in a decidedly more traditional (and, ironically, more "inclusive") display of pride: good, old-fashioned American patriotism.

Putting 'Pride' aside

"Walking into Target - instead of a giant "PRIDE" display as in the past, they have a USA section!! This is winning!" posted Wisconsin mother of four Katie Yonke on X Tuesday, emphasizing her enthusiasm with three American flag emojis.

While Yonke's post is anecdotal at best, it does reflect the company's newly low-key approach to Pride Month.

As one TikTok user pointed out, Target’s latest Pride collection now largely consists of a series of collectible bird figurines.

Social media silence

Other corporate behemoths are also downplaying their Pride involvement.

For evidence of this, one need look no farther than X. In addition to Target, Anheuser-Busch, IBM, XBox, Disney, Starbucks, Nike, Bank of America, Converse, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty are among the brands that have not acknowledged Pride Month with changes to their profiles.

Perhaps even more telling is Google's silence on the matter. While recent regional "Google Doodles" have commemorated the 2025 Korean presidential election and Italy's Republic Day, nary a "love is love" sign is to be found on the search giant's homepage.

RELATED: 'Sesame Street' targets children for Pride Month ... again: 'This should not be promoted to kids'

Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Google has also removed Pride Month and several other “holidays” from the Google Calendar, calling the proliferation and maintenance of these moments of remembrance “unsustainable” for the Calendar team.

Apple is another major Pride booster avoiding the spotlight this year. Its collection consists only of an Apple Watch band and some accompanying wallpapers.

Donations on the down-low

Sponsorship of Pride events in cities like San Francisco, Columbus, and St. Louis has also taken a hit. Many big corporate sponsors have either pulled out entirely, scaled back, or asked that their donations not be publicly disclosed.

New York City Pride, the largest Pride event in the nation, has usually depended on a handful of “platinum” donors — high-profile brands like Garnier, Mastercard, Skyy Vodka, and Target who give at least $175,000 to event organizer Heritage of Pride. This year, all but one have decreased their commitments.

Donors such as Nissan, PepisCo, Comcast, and Diageo have also stepped away from Pride celebrations.

Beating around the Busch

Anheuser-Busch has backed out of events in Columbus and San Francisco, as well as its hometown of St. Louis.

The brewer's cold feet come as no surprise, considering the fallout from its disastrous Bud Light marketing campaign featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in April 2023. The ensuing conservative boycott was devastating to the company; clearly, other companies paid close attention.

Re-engineered allyship

Pride goeth before a fall. Even those who reject such wisdom as outdated could have seen this coming, thanks to consulting firm Gravity Research's report from April.

The key takeaway from the report's survey of corporate leaders is that brands are increasingly publicity-shy when it comes to Pride Month. Rather than risk the backlash of abandoning it altogether, may have chosen to "re-engineer" their approach: “As polarization deepens, brands are favoring lower-profile, internally focused strategies that minimize public exposure while signaling commitment to employees.”

The report goes on to reveal some surprising statistics: “39% of companies plan to decrease overall engagement, and 41% report no change compared to previous years. No executive said they plan to increase Pride efforts overall.

Related: Rainbow rebellion: How Christians can take back what Pride Month stole

Martin Wahlborg/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The report also found that such companies were responding to pressure from three major groups: the Trump administration, conservative policymakers, and activists.

Gravity Research President Luke Hartig told CNN, “It’s clear that the administration and their supporters are driving the change. Companies are under increasing pressure not to engage and speak out on issues.”

Power of the pocketbook

In short, the highly effective boycotts levied against Anheuser-Busch and Target two years ago were just the beginning of more sweeping change, catalyzed by Trump 2.0's crusade against DEI policies.

Companies previously so quick to engage in trendy social causes are discovering that their activism comes with a price; controversy is far less appealing when it starts to affect the bottom line. They will no doubt pivot, as they always do, and live to sell another day.

Meanwhile, consumers on all sides have been reminded of their own immense power. No matter how much money is thrown at promoting a certain worldview, it's their dollars that get the final say.

Jaguar claws back from biggest marketing fail since Bud Light



Imagine a legendary car brand, known for its sleek design and British elegance, deciding to reinvent itself with a daring new image.

Exciting, right? For Jaguar Land Rover, that bold move turned into a spectacular misfire.

Jaguar’s ad, with its pink boulders and 'delete ordinary' tagline, felt like a betrayal to fans expecting a roaring cat, not an avant-garde dreamscape.

The company's 2024 rebrand, intended to launch an electric future, crashed hard, igniting a backlash so intense that it has now forced the company to overhaul its advertising strategy.

I’m diving into this gripping tale — how Jaguar’s “woke” rebrand backfired and tanked sales and what it means for the brand’s road ahead. Buckle up, because this story is a lesson in listening to your customers, and Jaguar is finally hearing you loud and clear.

'Delete ordinary'

Let’s set the scene. In November 2024, Jaguar unveiled what it called “the biggest change in Jaguar’s history — a complete reinvention for the brand.”

Gone were the iconic leaping-cat logo, the “growler” badge, and even the cars from their main ad campaign. In their place? A surreal pink moonscape, eclectic models in garishly colored outfits, and a slogan: “Delete ordinary.”

The ad, crafted by Accenture Song and JLR’s in-house agency, Spark44, aimed to reposition Jaguar as an electric-only luxury brand by 2026, targeting a younger, global audience.

Declawed

But instead of cheers, Jaguar faced a torrent of criticism, with fans, commentators like Nigel Farage, and even Elon Musk slamming the campaign as “woke” and out of touch.

Why did this rebrand flop so spectacularly? It alienated Jaguar’s core audience. Loyal customers, who revered the brand’s nearly century-long legacy of elegant saloons and thrilling sports cars, felt betrayed.

The ad’s focus on abstract visuals and diverse models — without a single car — left fans bewildered. Jaguar’s ad looks like a perfume commercial, not a car brand.

Ditching the iconic “growler” for a curved geometric “J” badge only fueled the outrage online. Online platforms lit up with fans mocking the rebrand as a desperate bid to chase trends rather than honor Jaguar’s heritage of luxury and performance.

Plummeting sales

The backlash wasn’t just vocal — it hit Jaguar’s bottom line hard. Sales plummeted from 61,661 cars in 2022 to 33,320 in 2024, a nearly 50% drop in two years. While some argue the decline started earlier, the controversial November 2024 campaign poured fuel on the fire.

Jaguar’s U.K. sales plummeted in 2024, even as Range Rover and Defender models thrived. The contrast is telling: Land Rover embraced rugged luxury, while Jaguar pivoted to a lineup of electric vehicles only that intentionally pushed away its base. Nigel Farage warned the rebrand could bankrupt the company, and Elon Musk echoed the sentiment, criticizing the move as a misstep.

Changing lanes

Jaguar’s leadership initially stood firm.

Managing Director Rawdon Glover said criticism was "hatred and intolerance," insisting the ad wasn’t “woke” but a courageous step to redefine the brand. He touted the upcoming Type 00 electric car with a 430-mile range.

But the numbers didn’t lie. By May 2025, Jaguar Land Rover announced a global creative account review to replace Accenture Song, whose contract runs until mid-2026, as reported by the Daily Mail. This move marks a clear retreat from the rebrand disaster, signaling Jaguar’s readiness to course-correct.

This isn’t the first time a brand has stumbled by prioritizing trends over authenticity. Think Bud Light’s 2023 Dylan Mulvaney campaign, Pepsi’s Kendall Jenner "protest" commercial, or Coca-Cola’s "New Coke." These brands faced boycotts and sales drops for straying from their roots.

Jaguar’s misstep follows suit: chasing a “woke” aesthetic over what customers crave — cars that embody power, style, and heritage. As I’ve noted before, whether discussing undervalued classics or today’s market, buyers value substance over flash. Jaguar’s ad, with its pink boulders and “delete ordinary” tagline, felt like a betrayal to fans expecting a roaring cat, not an avant-garde dreamscape.

External pressures

External pressures compounded Jaguar’s troubles. The 25% tariffs on foreign cars, imposed by President Trump in 2025, forced JLR to halt U.S. shipments briefly, adding £9,500 to the price of a Range Rover Evoque. Though exports resumed, the tariffs squeezed Jaguar’s already struggling sales, particularly as the company shifts to pricier electric models.

With used car prices climbing — wholesale prices hit a high in April 2025, per Cox Automotive — the classic car market is surging, making Jaguar’s heritage more valuable than ever. Yet the rebrand ignored this, alienating collectors who might have coveted a classic XJS or E-Type.

Regaining trust

What’s next for Jaguar? The agency review is a promising start, but it’s no quick fix.

JLR aims to position Jaguar as an upmarket electric brand, rivaling Tesla and Lucid. The Type 00, spotted testing in February 2025, boasts a 430-mile range and a striking unique design, but it’s a gamble if the brand can’t regain trust.

Social media reflects the skepticism, with users like Peter Thompson calling the rebrand “utterly terrible” and Andy Wigmore demanding that Jaguar’s leadership step down. The takeaway is clear: Authenticity beats trend-chasing. Jaguar’s legacy — sleek, powerful, unmistakably British — resonates more than fleeting cultural gestures.

For Jaguar fans, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The decision to part ways with Accenture Song shows the company is listening — finally.

A new agency could refocus on what makes Jaguar iconic: stunning design, exhilarating performance, and that signature growl. Picture a campaign blending the Type 00’s hybrid power with a nod to the E-Type’s timeless curves — that’s the Jaguar we love.

We have no confirmation that a hybrid power train is likely, but pivoting to what works can turn things around. Jaguar needs to harness that energy, merging its future with its storied past.

My advice for Jaguar enthusiasts? Keep your classic gems; they are rising in value. For now, Jaguar has heard you loud and clear, and this agency shake-up is proof. The road ahead is changing, but it must roar with the soul of a cat. Keep watching for more automotive insights, and let’s see if Jaguar can claw its way back to greatness.

LGBTQ Pride festivals see corporate funding dry up after conservative boycotts: 'Will we be able to keep the doors open?'



LGBTQ Pride festivals across the United States are facing major shortfalls in corporate funding this year following several successful conservative boycotts in recent years.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, LGBTQ leaders noted that the withdrawal of several corporate sponsors from this year's Pride Month festivities is "unprecedented."

'Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change.'

LGBTQ leaders have warned that Pride parades and festivals face severe funding gaps because corporate sponsorships are drying up.

San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford told Bloomberg, "Will we be able to keep the doors open? You know, that's what I'm most concerned about now."

Ford added, "We’ve all seen the culture wars playing out as far as how corporations respond, and I think this is part and parcel of that movement."

The San Francisco Pride celebration, which is scheduled for late June, is facing a $200,000 funding shortfall following the withdrawal of sponsors including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, and liquor giant Diageo.

With about a month before Pride Month, Twin Cities Pride faces an approximate $200,000 shortfall. The LGBTQ organization noted that it would use crowdfunding to try to compensate for Target ceasing its sponsorship of the event.

Pride St. Louis, which lost Anheuser-Busch as a sponsor, is confronted by a $150,000 budget shortfall.

Denver Pride revealed that returning sponsors have cut contributions by an average of 62%, leaving a $230,000 funding deficit.

According to Bloomberg, Dollar General Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. decided not to sponsor the June Pride event in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are currently reviewing allmarketing and sales spending,” a Nissan spokesperson told Bloomberg.

CNBC reported that Seattle Pride and New York City Pride both face $350,000 deficits.

Ryan Bos, Capital Pride Alliance’s executive director, told CNBC, "The sad thing is corporations have long been the first to step into our corner. The fact that some are questioning their commitment now during this uncertain time is very disheartening, hurtful, and frustrating for many.”

Home improvement retailer Lowe's reportedly stopped sponsoring the Charlotte Pride festival after providing funding the previous nine years.

St. Pete Pride in Florida noted that it would focus more on community donations instead of corporate sponsors after only hitting 55% of its fundraising goal as of late March, compared with the typical 80% to 90% at this time of year.

“We are the people. This is about people power and being able to use your dollar to advocate,” said Byron Green-Calisch, president of St. Pete Pride.

Nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June.

Some LGBTQ activists are insisting that corporations continue to funnel money to Pride festivities.

“We spend our money as a community in these corporations, and I want them to give back,” demanded Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride. “They should give back.”

According to a recent survey of 49 executives from Fortune 1000 companies by Gravity Research, nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June. In last year's survey, only 9% of companies told Gravity Research they would alter their Pride Month engagement plans.

Forbes reported, "Of the 39% of companies who said they would reduce Pride Month engagement this year, 43% said they would reduce external shows of support, which includes having a visual presence at or financially sponsoring Pride marches, offering a Pride merchandise line, updating social media branding, and partnering with influencers for Pride-themed sponsorships."

Many of the executives who said they were scaling back Pride sponsorships noted they were retreating because of possible conservative boycotts, pressure from President Donald Trump's administration, and the backlash against DEI initiatives.

“Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change,” said Luke Hartig, president of Gravity Research.

Hartig noted that some of the companies had already begun pulling back in LGBTQ support as early as 2023.

In April 2023, conservatives started to wage a successful brand boycott after Bud Light partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, lost millions in market share due to the conservative boycott.

In May 2023, Target lost billions in market value after conservatives boycotted the retail behemoth for rolling out eyebrow-raising LGBTQ Pride products.

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Celebrity-backed climate change finance company is bankrupt after Democrat-linked co-founder arrested for $145M fraud scheme



A climate change finance company that was backed by big name celebrities has filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy follows the arrest of the company's co-founder for allegedly attempting to defraud investors of $145 million.

Aspiration Inc., now known as CTN Holdings Inc., is a company that originally started as a sustainability focused financial services firm.

Ibrahim Ameen AlHusseini – also a prolific donor to Democrat causes who served on Aspiration's board of directors — allegedly participated in the scheme to defraud investors.

Aspiration is a self-described "climate-friendly banking alternative that's good for your wallet and the planet."

"When it comes to climate change, your money is power," the Aspiration website reads. "You can feel good knowing that your deposits will not fund fossil fuel exploration or production. By moving money to Aspiration, you’re giving the climate a fighting chance."

Aspiration was reportedly backed by notable celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Drake, Robert Downey Jr., Orlando Bloom, Cindy Crawford, and billionaire Steve Ballmer.

The climate change banking company – which reached a peak valuation of $2.3 billion in 2021 – shifted to selling carbon credits to other businesses in 2023, which Forbes described as a "strange pivot."

Aspiration then brokered carbon credit deals with major corporations such as Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Ballmer's Los Angeles Clippers.

Aspiration was founded in 2013 by Andrei Cherny and Joe Sanberg – both heavily linked to the Democratic Party.

At age 21, Cherny became a speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton. Cherny is a former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.

He previously lost the Democratic primary in Arizona for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 to Kyrsten Sinema. The Democrat also lost in 2024 when running in Arizona's 1st Congressional District election.

Meanwhile, Sanberg is a progressive anti-poverty advocate and a Democratic donor.

On March 3, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office of California's Central District announced that Sanberg had been arrested on a federal criminal complaint accusing him of conspiring to defraud two investor funds of at least $145 million.

Sanberg’s alleged co-conspirator, Ibrahim Ameen AlHusseini, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for falsifying documents and information to assist Sanberg.

Ibrahim Ameen AlHusseini – also a prolific donor to Democrat causes who served on Aspiration's board of directors — allegedly participated in the scheme to defraud investors.

"According to the complaint against Sanberg and AlHusseini’s plea agreement, Sanberg obtained $145 million in loans secured by AlHusseini, who Sanberg knew did not have sufficient financial assets to cover those loans if Sanberg defaulted," the statement read. "Sanberg hid this fact from investors, then defaulted on the loans, which resulted in at least a $145 million in losses."

Sanberg allegedly negotiated multimillion-dollar loans by pledging Aspiration stock as collateral.

Prosecutors said of AlHusseini, "At Sanberg’s direction, the defendant made untrue statements. Defendant and Sanberg knew that the falsified statements inflated the value of the assets in defendant’s accounts by tens of millions of dollars."

The U.S. Attorney's Office of California's Central District said Sanberg defaulted on a $145 million loan in November 2022 and again in the spring of 2023.

Sanberg has pleaded not guilty.

Sanberg’s lawyer, Marc Mukasey, stated, “Mr. Sanberg has pleaded not guilty to the charges. We will buckle down and defend him with vigor and zeal.”

If convicted, Sanberg faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

Forbes reported, "The charges against Sanberg relate only to his personal conduct; CTN isn’t implicated, according to a court filing."

In a filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware, chief restructuring officer Miles Staglik said he doesn’t believe the accusations implicate CTN in any criminal activity. However, investors affiliated with Sanberg reportedly stopped providing funding to CTN in February 2025.

Staglik admitted that the criminal case has hurt the company's ability to raise capital to operate. CTN had trouble finding sufficient funding to keep the business afloat, according to bankruptcy filings.

Staglik "emphasized that current management and employees were unaware of the alleged misconduct and that the business itself is a victim," according to the Wall Street Journal.

Sanberg no longer holds any positions at CTN Holdings and is no longer involved in its operations.

On March 30, 2025, Aspiration, which had been rebranded as CTN Holdings, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware. The company reportedly has approximately $170 million in debt.

Bloomberg reported, "CTN’s largest unsecured creditor is the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Clippers and Kia Forum, which are both owned by Steven Ballmer. Aspiration’s backers included Ballmer, whose Clippers and Kia Forum hold roughly $40 million in unsecured claims for 'contracted carbon credits' and 'carbon credit value,' according to the bankruptcy petition."

Ballmer is a "major funder of progressive-left groups," according to Influence Watch.

In addition to the potentially damning Sanberg allegations, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have reportedly been investigating Aspiration over its claims of "planting 35 million trees, raising questions about the validity of its environmental impact," according to Forbes.

ProPublica reported in 2021: "Aspiration’s signature marketing claim — about its tree-planting program — turns out to be overblown upon closer examination."

Cherny said in August 2021, "In the past year, the Aspiration community has planted over 35 million trees."

According to ProPublica, "The footnote for one of Aspiration’s two main tree programs presents a different picture than Cherny did: 'The advertised number of trees planted is the cumulative total of to-be planted trees ...' In other words, that 35 million figure included millions of trees that had not actually yet been planted."

The outlet also pointed out that Aspiration boasts that it has "5 million passionate members."

ProPublica noted, "But the fine print in an investor presentation prepared by the company explains that a 'member' is defined as anyone who has ever signed the terms and conditions in preparation for opening an Aspiration account — even if that person never actually opened the account or deposited a penny in it. Aspiration’s actual tally of active customer accounts was 592,148 as of June. That includes all checking, savings, credit card and investment accounts."

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Disney did something it hasn't done in nearly 30 years — it will delight Christian parents and drive liberals crazy



After years of Disney pandering to a woke agenda, the House of Mouse has done something conservative that it hasn't done in nearly 30 years. The surprising decision by the entertainment behemoth will delight Christian parents while driving liberals crazy at the same time.

Pixar's first animated series, "Win or Lose," is about "the intertwined stories of eight different characters as they each prepare for their big championship softball game — the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, even a lovesick umpire."

LGBTQ activist websites were 'uneasy' with a cartoon character praying.

In the series premiere episode, titled “Coach’s Kid,” which aired on Disney+ on Feb. 19, young Laurie is grappling with self-doubt and anxiety while preparing for an upcoming game. To deal with her lack of confidence, Laurie bows her head and folds her hands in prayer to ask God for strength.

“Dear heavenly Father, please give me strength. … I just want to catch a ball or get a hit," Laurie says. "I promise I'll be good, and I, uh, won't do that thing again."

In a different scene, Laurie prays, “Please help me be good. I’m gonna train so hard.”

The Christian Post reported, "The scene marks the first time a Disney character is portrayed offering an explicitly Christian prayer since 1996’s 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and its song 'God Help the Outcasts,' which includes the lyrics, 'God help the outcasts / Hungry from birth / Show them the mercy / They don’t find on earth / God help my people / We look to You still / God help the outcasts / Or nobody will.'"

WDW News said, "Laurie is the first character to be openly Christian from Disney since the 2007 film 'Bridge to Terabithia,' which featured the children Jesse and Leslie attending church together and discussing religion on their trip home."

LGBTQ activist websites were "uneasy" with a cartoon character praying.

PinkNews claimed, "The introduction of an explicitly Christian character is fairly innocuous on its own standing, but the context surrounding the show — and Disney at large — has left some LGBTQ+ TV lovers a little uneasy."

"While Laurie’s Christian beliefs aren’t depicted as being anti-trans, and Christian characters aren’t incongruous with trans characters — of course, someone can be both religious and transgender — some viewers feel the two conjunctive decisions are indicative of Disney moving back towards a more traditional, conservative worldview," the outlet added.

LGBTQ Nation said, "The opening episode now introduces Laurie, whose first lines depict her praying to the 'heavenly father.'"

The outlet ranted, "Her introduction comes as Donald Trump and the Republican party continue to terrorize the trans community and use Christianity as justification, all the while claiming that Christians are being persecuted by diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts."

The site trashed Disney for "bending to conservative will."

"Win or Lose" originally had a much more progressive agenda.

As Blaze News reported in December 2024, Disney buckled to pressure from conservative parents who called for the removal of a transgender character in the animated children's show.

One of the characters in the show, based on middle-school-aged children, was initially slated to feature a transgender storyline.

Disney cut the scene with the transgender child discussing gender identity.

A spokesperson from Disney said in December 2024, "When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, "The character remains in the show, but a few lines of dialogue that referenced gender identity are being removed. A source close to 'Win or Lose' said the studio made the decision to alter course several months ago."

The character is to be voiced by 18-year-old transgender actor Chanel Stewart.

Liberals launched a petition to have the transgender storyline reinstated, but it only received 8,300 signatures.

As Blaze News reported in November 2023, Disney, which is Pixar’s parent company, warned investors that the company's wokeness presents risks to its "reputation and brands" in its annual financial report with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Wife of NBA star Stephen Curry forced to permanently close her California store over 'safety' concerns



The wife of NBA star Stephen Curry announced this week that she would be forced to permanently close her retail store in California over safety concerns.

Ayesha Curry is the owner of Sweet July — a retail space in Oakland that is part coffee shop, part home goods store, and part bookstore.

Sweet July has promoted several messages spotlighting progressive ideals.

Just four years after Sweet July opened, the store will now shut down due to safety issues.

"In order to prioritize the safety of our patrons and staff, we have made the difficult decision to close our Sweet July cafe and store in Oakland," the official Instagram account for the retail store stated on Monday.

"We have loved being a part of Oakland and are grateful for the community that has opened their arms and embraced us. It has been an honor to serve you," the announcement added. "While this chapter comes to a close, Sweet July has exciting new ventures on the horizon that we can’t wait to share."

The brand proclaimed that Uptown Oakland is "where we call home."

Sweet July did not specify what safety threats the store encountered.

The business is set to permanently shutter its doors on Feb. 9.

Sweet July has promoted several messages spotlighting progressive ideals.

Sweet July stressed on its website, "And when it comes to the products, we believe the stories behind the makers are as important as the products they sell, which is why we've tirelessly researched and tested the best premium products from black-owned companies, as well as Bay Area makers, and curated them for you all under one roof."

The home goods seller publishes a magazine with articles titled: "The Boy Is (Still) Mine: Honoring My Queer Motherhood Journey," "For Reem Assil, Food Is a Tool for Palestinian Liberation," and "Rooted in Love: Can We Decide Who Makes Up Our Family Tree?"

Stephen and Ayesha Curry are devout liberal Democrats.

The couple, along with their children, appeared in a video endorsing Joe Biden for president in 2020.

Stephen was featured in a video shown at the 2024 Democratic National Convention endorsing Kamala Harris for president.

Sweet July is already the second business that the wife of the Golden State Warriors star basketball player closed in 2025.

Restaurant co-owners — Ayesha Curry and chef Michael Mina — closed down their International Smoke barbecue restaurant located at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last month.

There have been multiple Oakland businesses that have closed due to overwhelming crime.

In March, a Taco Bell location in Oakland closed after criminals regularly robbed the fast-food restaurant and its customers.

As Blaze News reported last February, Denny's permanently closed its only restaurant location in Oakland after 54 years in business due to safety concerns.

In September 2023, Target shut down several stories in crime-ridden Democratic-run locations, including three stores in the San Francisco Bay area.

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Team behind upcoming animated Pixar movie 'struggled' with order to cut out environmentalist message: Report



A team working on an animated Pixar film reportedly struggled after being ordered to cut out the environmentalist message at the center of the plot.

The development was reported by the Hollywood Reporter and hailed by many as the latest in victories by opponents of woke politicization in popular media.

'We recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.'

The Hollywood Reporter cited a former Pixar artist who had worked on "Hoppers," an upcoming film about a human being and a beaver who swap bodies. The artist claimed that environmentalism had been ordered out of the project.

“Unfortunately, when you have your whole film based around the importance of environmentalism, you can’t really walk back on that,” said the artist. “That team struggled a lot to figure out, ‘What do we even do with this note?'”

The report comes soon after Disney ordered creators to drop references to a character being transgender in "Win or Lose," a series developed by Pixar Animation Studios that is scheduled to be released in February on the Disney+ platform. The character was voiced by a transgender actor and had been written to describe struggling with gender dysphoria.

Disney confirmed that the decision was made to ease parental concerns despite outrage from left-wing activists.

"When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline," said a spokesperson for Disney.

The beleaguered company has faced a string of box-office duds that many have attributed to the inclusion of woke characters and storylines that turn off many viewers.

The "Hoppers" film stars Jon Hamm as the leading voice actor and is scheduled for theater release in spring of 2026.

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Lead 'Acolyte' actress blames 'hyper-conservative bigotry' and 'hatred' for cancellation of woke 'Star Wars' show



The lead actress of the latest offering in the "Star Wars" franchise has spoken out about the cancellation of the series, and she is blaming "hatred" and "bigotry" from "hyper-conservative" viewers.

"The Acolyte" was nearly universally rejected due to the woke themes shoehorned into the popular mythos, but Amandla Stenberg went on social media to accuse fans of hatred after the show was canceled by Disney+.

'Bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred and hateful language.'

“I’m going to be transparent and say it’s not a huge shock for me,” Stenberg said in a story video on Instagram.

“There has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced, when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it," she continued. "That’s when we started experiencing a rampage of, I would say, hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudice, hatred, and hateful language towards us.”

She went on to say the series was a victim of a "targeted attack" by the "alt-right."

Stenberg had previously accused Hollywood of being a "white institution" and was known as an LGBTQ activist on social media.

"Representations within Hollywood are going to be extensions of white supremacy," she said on a podcast.

Many fans recoiled when the series introduced lesbian witchcraft into the "Star Wars" lore and recast good guys as the bad. Ratings for the show plummeted, but the few who defended the series claimed those poor ratings were due to a small group of hateful fans.

That account was undermined by the cancellation of the show, which at one point garnered a positive review from only 14% of fans on Rotten Tomatoes. It currently stands at 18%.

The show cost $180 million to produce, making it one of the most expensive Disney+ "Star Wars" shows ever, at a cost of $671,641 per minute. Many on social media hoped the demise of the woke show meant the franchise might turn back to more traditional narratives.

Here's more about the woke disaster:

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Blaze News original: 7 times celebrities spoke against woke culture — and won



Celebrities typically are afraid to speak out against progressive ideologies since they subscribe to the ideals of the woke Hollywood echo chamber or because they fear repercussions for going against the liberal herd. However, there are a handful of times when entertainers not only spoke against woke culture, but they also won because of it.

Joe Rogan

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Joe Rogan has declared himself to be a "bleeding heart liberal" on several topics. However, the prolific podcaster has also condemned progressivism for going too far to the left on a myriad of significant issues.

Rogan was one of the first major voices to question the pandemic narrative. Rogan used his massive platform to question why government health officials were not advising people to get more exercise and increased exposure to the sun for a natural source of vitamin D to help protect them against COVID-19.

His opinions expressed on "The Joe Rogan Experience" opened the door to widespread condemnation by the media and fellow celebrities. Musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell yanked their music off Spotify for allowing "irresponsible people" who were “spreading lies that are costing people their lives" regarding COVID-19 vaccines. However, both musicians walked back their positions and returned their music catalogs to Spotify.

Rogan even considered suing CNN for its hit piece on him.

Rogan has been an outspoken critic of biological males competing in female sports under the guise of transgender rights. The comedian has also lambasted the idea that children should have irreversible transgender treatments and surgeries to enable them to transition.

The controversies have not put a dent in Rogan's popularity.

Last month, it was revealed that "The Joe Rogan Experience" has 14.5 million followers – nearly three times more than the next most popular program on Spotify.

In February, the Wall Street Journal reported that Rogan had signed a multiyear deal with Spotify worth an estimated $250 million. By re-signing with the streaming behemoth, Rogan reportedly received an upfront minimum guarantee and revenue-sharing based on sales of advertisements. The contract is a three-year deal, according to the New York Daily News.

Rogan was so fed up with progressive policies that he moved his family from the liberal enclave of California to Austin, Texas.

Mark Wahlberg

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Mark Wahlberg is another celebrity who moved out of California.

"The Departed" actor moved his family from southern California to Nevada "to give my kids a better life."

"We came here to just kind of give ourselves a new look, a fresh start for the kids, and there’s lot of opportunity here, so I’m really excited about the future," Wahlberg said in 2022.

In 2016, Wahlberg admitted that "a lot of Hollywood is living in a bubble."

"They’re pretty out of touch with the common person, the everyday guy out there providing for their family," he added.

While many Hollywood actors are nonreligious, Wahlberg openly flaunts his devotion to his Christian faith.

Wahlberg previously said religion is "not popular in Hollywood."

"It's a balance — I don't want to jam it down anybody’s throat, but I do not deny my faith. That's an even bigger sin," Wahlberg explained. "You know, it’s not popular in my industry, but, you know, I cannot deny my faith. It's important for me to share that with people. I have friends from all walks of life and all different types of faiths and religions, so you know, it's important to respect and honor them as well."

In 2022, the Academy Award-nominated actor starred in the movie "Father Stu" – a film based on the true story of a boxer-turned-priest and his journey from self-destruction to redemption.

Earlier this year, he partnered with a Catholic prayer and meditation app, which shot up to the top of the Apple App Store after being promoted by Wahlberg in a Super Bowl commercial.

Wahlberg is one of the top Hollywood actors and also boasts several successful businesses. Wahlberg's net worth is said to be $400 million.

Gina Carano

Mark Davis/WireImage

Actress Gina Carano fought back against the cancel culture horde after she was fired by Disney over social media posts.

In February 2021, Carano was terminated by Disney for posting a meme on social media that likened the treatment of American conservatives to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. Carano had been a star on Disney's immensely popular "Star Wars" TV spin-off "The Mandalorian."

The Walt Disney Company declared her social media posts as "denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities," which it called "abhorrent and unacceptable."

Last February, the former mixed martial arts athlete teamed up with Elon Musk to launch a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm.

The wrongful termination and discrimination lawsuit alleges that Carano was a victim of an "online bully mob who demanded her compliance with their extreme progressive ideology."

Carano told BlazeTV's Glenn Beck about Musk's lawyers contacting her to sue Disney.

“I was just so excited, and I emailed him back immediately,” Carano told Beck, adding that “they were kind of dumbfounded about how this happened.”

The former MMA fighter also said, "I think it’s pretty incredible what he is doing. A lot of billionaires put their money into buying islands and building bunkers. Elon Musk is using his money to fight massive injustice battles."

Disney's attorneys argue, "The First Amendment protects Disney’s decision to dissociate itself from some speech but not from other, different speech. The First Amendment mandates deference to the speaker’s own decisions about what speech to associate with, even if others might consider those decisions ‘internally inconsistent’ ... Carano thus cannot stake out a discrimination claim by alleging that Disney accorded different treatment to different statements by different actors."

Carano contended, "Disney has confirmed what has been known all along, they will fire you if you say anything they disagree with, even if they have to MISREPRESENT, MALIGN, and MISCHARACTERIZE you to do it. They are now on record letting everyone who works for them know that Disney will take any chance they get to control what you say, what you think or they will attempt to destroy your career. Glad we cleared that up. The First Amendment does not allow Disney to wantonly DISCRIMINATE, which is what they have done in my case and frankly have now admitted they did. If you ever wanted to know what today’s 'Disney values' are, they just told you."

Dave Chappelle

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Comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked for telling transgender jokes. However, the stand-up comedian refused to bow to the woke mob and ended up winning.

In October 2021, Chappelle faced controversy for transgender jokes in his "The Closer" comedy special. Critics declared Chappelle to be "homophobic" and "transphobic."

"Gender is a fact," Chappelle declared. "Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact."

The special aired on Netflix, which prompted employees of the streaming television giant to stage a protest over the stand-up comedian's jokes.

Chappelle blasted the legacy media's attempt to cancel him.

He stated, "F**k Twitter, F**k NBC News, ABC News, all these stupid ass networks. I'm not talking to them. I'm talking to you, this is real life."

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos refused to bend the knee to the firestorm posse.

Sarandos proclaimed, "Content on screen doesn't directly translate to real-world harm."

In fact, Netflix canned the employee organizing a worker walkout at the streaming giant over Chappelle's transgender jokes. The employee allegedly leaked classified information about how much Netflix paid for Chappelle's comedy specials — $24.1 million on "The Closer" and $23.6 million on "Sticks & Stones."

BlazeTV's Lauren Chen noted of the comedian, "He's the type of entertainer, the type of person where nothing is off limits, and he’s certainly not afraid of being controversial."

Chappelle went on to release "The Dreamer" comedy special on Netflix in 2023.

Jason Aldean

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Jason Aldean pulled off the opposite of "go woke, go broke" by releasing the law-and-order anthem "Try That in a Small Town."

Online pundits panned the country music song as having racist undertones, endorsing political violence, encouraging lynchings, and advocating vigilantism.

CMT pulled the music video off the country network's air.

Aldean defended the song by saying, "There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it — and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage — and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music — this one goes too far."

He continued, "'Try That in a Small Town,' for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences."

At a concert in Cincinnati, Aldean declared cancel culture to be "bulls**t."

"You guys know how it is this day and age, cancel culture is a thing. That's something that, if people don't like what you say, they try and make sure that they can cancel you, which means try and ruin your life, ruin everything," Aldean stated. "One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that can see through a lot of the bulls**t."

The backlash drew even more attention to the song, which helped it climb the music charts.

"Try That in a Small Town" debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Country Airplay. Over a month after being released, the song notched the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 — thanks in part to the supposed controversy. It became Aldean's first number-one song since 2014's "Burnin' It Down."

Ricky Gervais

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Comedian Ricky Gervais savagely took no prisoners when hosting the 77th annual Golden Globes in 2020.

Gervais mercilessly mocked A-listers right in front of their faces and refused to back down from even the most taboo Hollywood topics.

Gervais prefaced his hard-hitting monologue by warning the celebrities: "Let's have a laugh — at your expense."

The British comedian joked that the license plate on his limousine was made by Felicity Huffman — the actress sentenced to jail for her role in the 2019 Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. Actor Tom Hanks was visibly disgusted by the joke at the expense of his fellow colleague.

The Golden Globes host not only skewered actors but also roasted Hollywood executives.

"Tonight isn’t just about the people in front of the camera. In this room are some of the most important TV and film executives in the world. People from every background," he said. "But they all have one thing in common: They’re all terrified of Ronan Farrow.”

He tagged the line by saying, "He’s coming for you, he’s coming for you."

Farrow is the journalist most known for his investigative reporting on the sexual abuse committed by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, which ushered in the #MeToo movement.

Gervais didn't stop there. He shamelessly plugged his Netflix show "After Life" and then added a zinger.

He said, "You can binge-watch the entire first season of 'After Life.' That's a show about a man who wants to kill himself after his wife dies of cancer. It has a second season though, so he obviously doesn't kill himself in the end — just like Jeffrey Epstein."

The celebrity crowd gasped, to which Gervais fired back: "I know he's your friend, but I don't care."

Gervais blasted the celebrities for lecturing the public.

"So, if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a political platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world," he stated. "Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg. So, if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your God, and f**k off. OK?"

The Gervais-hosted Golden Globes in 2020 boasted 18.3 million viewers. Viewership plummeted to 6.9 million in 2021 and only 6.25 million in 2023. There was no televised Golden Globes ceremony in 2022 because of the diversity and ethics scandal at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – the group that votes on the winners.

Many regard Gervais – who hosted the award show five times – as the best Golden Globes host.

Dana White

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In 2023, Dana White said of the UFC: "We don't do anything woke over here."

White has made it no secret that he is a friend and supporter of former President Donald Trump.

At the 2016 Republican National Convention, White stumped for Trump and explained how their friendship began. White noted that the fledgling UFC was struggling in the early 2000s.

"Nobody took us seriously," White said. "Except Donald Trump."

White remembered how Trump not only took an interest in the UFC but offered to host two mixed martial arts events at the Trump Taj Mahal hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

"Donald was the first to recognize the potential that we saw in the UFC and encouraged us to build our business," White recalled.

"He dealt with us personally, got in the trenches with us, and he made a deal that worked for everyone," he continued. "On top of that, he showed up for our fight on Saturday night and sat in the first row."

White declared, "I will always be so grateful to him for standing with us in those early days."

White has continued to be a staunch supporter of Trump despite outside pressure for him to disavow his friend.

During a November 2023 appearance on comedian Theo Von’s podcast, White revealed that a major UFC sponsor instructed him to distance himself from Trump.

"I posted a video for Trump on my personal social media. One of our big sponsors called and said, ‘Take that down.’ You know what I said? 'Go f**k yourself,'" White said on the "This Past Weekend" podcast.

“You vote for whoever you want to vote for, and I’ll vote for whoever I want to vote for," he added. "That’s how this works. I don’t even care who you’re voting for. It’s none of my f*****g business. F**k you. Don’t ever f*****g call me and tell me who to vote for."

White has applied his free-speech advocacy to the UFC and does not censor MMA fighters, even when they make remarks that some have deemed to be offensive.

The UFC CEO said in 2020, "These guys all have their own causes, things, their own beliefs. We don't muzzle anybody here. We let everybody speak their mind."

White convinced casino executives to purchase the struggling Ultimate Fighting Championship for $2 million in 2001, and he was named president of the organization.

In 2016, the UFC was sold for $4.025 billion – making the acquisition the most expensive transaction for an organization in sports history at the time. At the time of the sale, White owned 9% of the UFC.

As of April 2023, the UFC is reported to have a value of $12 billion.

The UFC produced $1.3 billion in revenue in 2023 — a 13% increase from 2022.

White, 54, has an estimated net worth of $500 million.

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Obama blasted for producing Netflix cartoon for preschoolers showcasing young children attending gay wedding



A Netflix cartoon for preschoolers is being panned online for showcasing children attending a gay wedding. Many online commentators are slamming Barack and Michelle Obama for producing the woke TV show.

"Ada Twist, Scientist" is a Netflix animated TV series rated for preschoolers and children aged 3 and up, according to Common Sense Media.

Common Sense Media notes that "Ada Twist, Scientist" is a "good way to get preschoolers interested in science and offers great representation with a black girl scientist as the lead."

Common Sense Media is self-described as offering "the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews" for parents.

The outlet claims, "There's not much iffy content other than parents talking about being in love and kissing each other briefly."

However, many online commentators believe that an episode of "Ada Twist, Scientist" definitely features iffy content because of a scene promoting gay marriage to young children.

A recent episode “Ada Twist, Scientist" featured the show's main characters attending a gay wedding between two men. The main characters are aged: 7, 8, 9, and 10.

The official synopsis of the episode in question: "When a tornado touches down on the day of Sensei Dave and Jiu Jitsu Joe's wedding, the gang must think up a way for all of the guests to safely gather."

Voicing the two gay men getting married in the episode are homosexual actors George Takei from "Star Trek" and "Half Baked" star Guillermo Diaz.

Mombian – a website for "lesbian moms" – describes the episode as:

Sensei Dave and Jiu Jitsu Joe are perhaps the most romantic same-sex couple I’ve seen in a preschool show. When a reporter at the wedding introduces the two characters, Takei tells her, “He’s the undisputed champion of my heart.” Aww. They’re also physically affectionate, notably when they kiss after being declared “husband and husband.” Joe gives Dave a brief kiss on the head at another point, and they link arms or put their arms around each other at several moments. Their love is obvious.

The writer for the LGBTQ website adds, "I just can’t recall any similar level of romance and physical affection between a same-sex couple in a preschool show."

The woke show for preschoolers is executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama with their Higher Ground Productions.

— (@)

Many people denounced the kid's show that promoted a gay wedding to young children.

Education freedom advocate Sam Sorbo: "Your kids are being indoctrinated."

Radio host Christopher Calvin Reid: "Anyone who claimed to be a Christian and supported Obama... look at what he is doing to promote Trans ideology to kids! Never vote for democrats for any office. They will always make things worse. Republicans have issues, but the worst Republican is 1,000 times better than a Dem!"

New Zealand politician Elliot Ikilei: "Yes. They do target children."

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