Lady Gaga to Target: Burn the Gays? No "Born This Way"

Posted by Shirley Brady on February 24, 2011 01:00 PM

"Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past...our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those groups." — Lady Gaga talks to Billboard for a cover story about the exclusive deal with Target for Born This Way, her upcoming album.

The big-box retailer last year angered the gay community after corporate donations to an organization supporting anti-gay policies and political candidates came to light last year, for which its CEO was forced to apologize. Billboard posts a transcript of its reporter's conversation with Target's VP of public relations about Lady Gaga's statements here.

(h/t Jezebel)

More about: Lady Gaga, Personal Brands, Celebrities, Target, Gay Rights, Corporate Responsibility, Corporate Citizenship, Politics

Karen says:

Why would the President of Target be "forced" to apologize for freedom of expression. Why do we have to be forced to accept things and not support who we want to support. Last time I checked we were supposed to have freedom to support groups we choose. Is that only true as long as their isn't any controversy? Let Ga Ga take her album somewhere else, she is old news anyway!

February 24, 2011 05:49 PM #

S. Brady (brandchannel) says:

Hi Karen: Appreciate your feedback. Perhaps "compelled" would have been a better choice of words; and Target's public relations VP says (in the link at the end) that the company has a corporate responsibility to be "thoughtful" (a word used repeatedly) in its political giving, and that they are making a more concerted effort to reach out to LGBT groups. Target has also set up a committee to review political donations, one that doesn't include the CEO. And Lady Gaga certainly isn't old news to her millions of fans around the world!

February 24, 2011 06:59 PM #