Dear Jenny,
I’ve been a loyal fan of yours for years, have sworn by and touted your program as an influencer, shared my progress online and enthusiastically sent many of my readers to you.
So it pains me deeply to learn — from some of those readers who have sent me frantic private messages — that you’re a Donald Trump supporter and are going so far as to actually host a fundraiser for him.
I am despondent at this news because it means I’m going to have to leave you.
This is not a case of Democrat vs Republican or simply disagreeing with your choice of candidate. This is so much more important than that because the man you are supporting is someone who incites hatred and violence. He is absolutely unqualified to be President of the United States, and he’s already changed the nature of campaigning by mocking the disabled, demeaning women, encouraging his supporters to use physical force against protesters and putting down people of different races and nationalities. And this is only at his rallies. What would he do given the power of the Presidency?
During recent tragedies, he’s used the stage to congratulate himself and brag about how he’s personally benefiting from others’ misfortunes. He’s disregarded the idea of a free press to censor those who disagree with him. He’s endorsed by the NRA and the Ku Klux Klan.
I’m shocked and horrified that you are supporting him.
As my thousands of blog readers and social media followers know, I truly love your program. I do not want to give it up and I’m hoping you will answer this letter and maybe even change your mind. With so many female customers, how can you possibly support someone so blatantly misogynistic?
I’m very sad that I won’t be able to stay with a program I’ve loved, promoted and been successful at for so many years. But I’m even sadder that someone I respected has put her valuable support behind a man who spews hatred and has no regard for anyone other than himself.
I really don’t want to leave you and I’m hoping you will reconsider your support so I — and, from the looks of your social media, many others — can be proud to stay on your wonderful program. But until then, there’s too much at stake to remain silent.
There’s a saying that “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” but that’s not true. Integrity trumps skinny any day.
UPDATE: Here’s the reply I got from my message on the Jenny Craig Facebook page: “Hi Lois, thank you for your note. Mrs. Jenny Craig is the founder of our Company. The company was sold to and is currently owned by North Castle Partners as of November 2013. As such Mrs. Craig has no operating role in the company. Like all companies, we have employees and executives, past and present, with a wide range of political views. However, we as a company do not take political stands on issues or candidates.”
That answer seemed a little nebulous to me so I wrote back, asking them to please clarify whether Mrs. Craig still profits from the company even though she no longer has an operating role in it. It seems to me when a brand is named after a real person, one continues to represent the other until a statement is made by either one saying otherwise. To be continued …
WHOA! I’m not a fan of corporations backing politics (even when I like the politician.) What right does a business have speaking on behalf of their employees – and customers?!!
Jenny Craig, the real person, is hosting this fundraiser and I’m not sure if her own employees realize it. But she shares her company’s name so it will be interesting to see what their reaction is. I’m sick over the whole thing.
I had no idea. I’m proud if you, Lois, for speaking out and being true to your values. I’m behind you 100%.
That means a lot to me, Helene. xo
Wow. Good for you for writing this, Lois. Wow. That’s a hot mess right there, seriously. Such a shame. And I wonder how many of her employees will up and quit? If they learn about it ..
I am so depressed over the whole thing.
Amazing letter, Lois!
Thank you, Pia. I wish I didn’t have to write it.
Good for you Lois. I know how much this matters to you.
Thank you. I am so sad.
I agree wholeheartedly with you and as someone who has been a strong influencer for Jenny Craig and her food plan I draw the line of supporting her with her efforts to elect Donald Trump. I’m ashamed of her choice to raise money for someone who mistreats women, minorities and the disabled and incites anger, hatred and violence. Shame on you Jenny. You lost my support and the support of my followers. I hope you respond to Lois and perhaps will do the right thing for our country.
Oh, Cathy, isn’t this the most depressing news? xo
Thank you….you’re right…..integrity is much more important.
Good for you for speaking out, Lois. Integrity trumps skinny any day. – Yes!
Great letter Lois. Too many influential women that I had thought were intelligent are being persuaded to follow that abhorrent clown. Truly scary.
I just don’t understand it. What do they possibly think he’s going to do to help the country?? Thanks for reading and commenting, Rebecca.
Can you say, “Weight Watchers here I come?”
Ha! I guess I could just stopping eating crap!
She doesn’t own the company anymore so I doubt she cares whether anyone buys it or not. She’s moved on.
Maybe the company will drop her name, maybe not.
I personally don’t believe in pressuring people or companies because of their political views. You either believe everyone has a right to their opinion or you don’t. I feel it divides us more and it rarely works, look at Chik fi la and Hobby Lobby.
Personally I may or may not continue giving money to a company I felt was against my beliefs but I wouldn’t give them the free publicity or give the other side the opportunity to come to their defense financially.
I disagree. Money is the only thing that talks and Chick-Fil-A did change after all the boycotting. Companies don’t care what you say about them if you’re still patronizing their businesses. I will never give Hobby Lobby a penny to support their ultra conservative views.
Personally I don’t think companies should express who they support for the very reason you are writing a letter. I know everything is public these days but really if the diet was working for you, stick with it. By boycotting is just another way of dividing this country that you don’r respect someone’s political views. If your electrical company shared their interest in Trump would you stop using electricity?
Lois – I am so proud of you! I heard about the fund raiser and heard it will be at the Del Mar Country Club which Madeline Paulson owns – I follow her on sites, her Horse Sanctuary and sent a comment on her site as well. So disappointed in both women. Thought they were smarter than that.
Me, too. I’m shocked. And even though Jenny doesn’t own the company any more, it’s her name and I don’t think I can be associated with any name that’s associated with Trump.
Why buy a program’s plan and food when you can create your own? I can see value for temporarily adhering to a plan such as JC or WW. But maybe this is the positive catalyst to dump all packaged programs and create meals yourself. two for one — not support Trump and save your money
Well said!
If what the company says is true, then they ought to rebrand themselves real fast!
I admire you for speaking out, Lois. Sitting in India, I’m hoping and praying that Donald Trump doesn’t become your President.
This is a wake up call for us all. You are right — these issues are entirely too important to not speak up. Leading a values-driven life includes shopping with a conscience. Yep, that answers is just not enough….
This kind of interaction is exactly what makes blogging a legitimate form of journalism. Thank you for your brave letter. I’m interested in what happens next.
Thank you for sharing this, Lois. I am so grateful for those who speak out. Jenny Craig and I are done.
And I am amazed at the polarisation I am seeing in this campaign. It is separating people into two camps. And isn’t at all pretty…
Integrity trumps skinny any day. Each and every day.
Frankly, I’m shocked. I look forward to tuning in to hopefully more clarification from them.
Good for you Lois. I appreciate you using your influencing power for the rest of us!
Integrity does trump skinny everyday!
I am a senior on a fix social security income and i don’t trust trump at all. I think because he is a businessman with a very bad outspoken temper and has the mastered the art of bankruptcy, I don’t see how he can ever be any help to us seniors as I really don’t think he even cares. He is more interested in making more and more money and will do what it takes to please his ego and anyone else will always come second and that includes our country. He takes a good game but it is not hard to see the devil in him so beware. He can never be a politician.
talks a good game
Though they do not admit it, Jenny Craig is still on the board of Directors of Jenny Craig. How they can have someone on their board who supports a man who makes fun of overweight people, mostly women is shameful. She should be dumped.
I was wondering if there is any new information about whether or not Jenny Craig still shares in the profits of the company. I recently visited Jenny Craig to start their program and too have been a fan and supporter of the company. On my way to my first appointment my stomach started to turn. I could not let go of the fact that Founder Jenny Craig had supported Donald Trump become president. The company has tried to distance itself from the political views of Jenny Craig, but board removal does not answer an even more important question that is if she is sharing in the profit of the company. In any situation, her name is the brand and face of the company and with it comes the influence of the Brand. I have asked my local Jenny Craig to answer the question about profit sharing to Jenny Craig. Many patrons of Jenny Craig do not know about Jenny Craig’s support of Trump. I believe that if some of them knew, they would not continue to patron the company.
On another note, I was recently disappointed in Jenny Craig’s (the company) initial statement about Bill O’Reilly’s sexual harassment exposure, and the delay in their pulling media dollars from his show. Now I’m wondering about the stance the company has on the rights of women and women’s issue’s. I would think that with a customer base of 90% women that they would take more moral leadership in standing up for important women’s issue’s.
I believe I have the right to know if Jenny Craig (the Founder) is still supporting Trump behind the scenes or plans on supporting a second Trump term and is still profiting from the company. What can we do to find out the truth so we as consumers can make a more educated decision?
I agree with you on all of this and think the fact that the company is being so evasive about her current role says it all. I was never able to get any definitive answers so I have to believe she is still involved in some way. At this point, money seems to be the only thing that makes a difference so I will not be supporting Jenny Craig in any way anymore. And, yes, I believe that many of her clients would also leave if they had any idea the company was actively contributing to such anti-women policies. This was hugely disillusioning to me.
I have been looking for a diet support site, but will stick with the weight loss community I already belong to and use other food sources. This is an older letter, but more recent support from this company has shown a troubling ongoing contempt for women’s rights. I will never consider using Jenny Craig.