// Wickes is facing a boycott from thousands of customers after its COO said trans-critical shoppers were ‘not welcome in our stores’
// Fraser London claimed most of the population was “sort of slightly ignorant but mostly kind” at an online trans summit
Thousands of Wickes customers are threatening to boycott the DIY retailer after its chief operating officer said shoppers with trans-critical views are “bigots” who “are not welcome in our stores”.
Speaking at an online trans summit hosted by Pink News, Fraser Longden said: “I don’t think I’m ever going to change some of the bigots out there’s minds, I’m never going to win that argument with them.”
He claimed most of the population was “sort of slightly ignorant but mostly kind” when responding to a question on last year’s attempt of a boycott by campaigners surrounding Wickes’ Brighton Pride float.
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“The other 10% you know, they’re just hot air and they will go and buy a tin of paint in the nearest place to them,” Longden continued.
“That might have been us before, it might not be us afterwards – and equally, if they do come in and buy a tin of paint and behave that way, they’re not welcome in our stores anyway.”
Longden’s comments caused an angry backlash online, with #boycottWickes trending on Twitter. The retailer has since seen its share price tumbling, which is currently down 3.25%.
The board of @Wickes need to get their heads out of their bums and make it clear if they stand by their Chief Operations Officer Fraser Longden….
Do they really see the majority of their customers as bigots?
Otherwise #BoycottWickes will continue to grow…… pic.twitter.com/5H82WTHNjt
— John James (@JohnJamesNI) June 16, 2023
So @Wickes thinks anyone in the Uk that thinks biological females deserve fair & safe sport is a bigot! That’s an lawful lot of mums, dads, grandparents, Brothers & of course females who’ll be taking their bigoted business else where! 😉
— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) June 15, 2023
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