PITTSBURGH — You’ve seen back-to-school ads all over television recently for several major retailers. Now, one department store is under fire for an ad that some parents say promotes bullying.
A commercial for JC Penney has a voice-over from a mother saying her son’s clothes could “make or break” his school year. The ad then shows a student sitting alone at a lunch table.
Some parents say the spot puts pressure on cash-strapped parents to buy the latest clothing trends for their kids.
The criticism comes as JC Penney is already struggling. Their sales are down and the company is looking for a new CEO.
JC Penney officials said the ad was not intended to promote bullying and they have pulled it from their current TV campaign.