Women’s group calls out Yeti; many vow to go "Bud Light"

I found this story so hard to believe I searched numerous sources to make sure it was true. Has Yeti gone nuts?

This Yeti cup was a gift from my daughter. My husband has used it frequently.

Yeti cups and products are popular in the United States, and we have quite a few of those products in my home. I’ve never been a fan, but my husband has for quite some time. Now Yeti is being accused of political bias after refusing to fulfill an order from a women’s group.

It’s strange because the group alleges, and offers proof, the company had printed the group’s name and logo on cups in previous orders. Who is the group?

The Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women has been around for decades. I’ve never perceived that group as a “hate group”, or an organization seeking to infringe on the rights of others. I’m not a member, but after reviewing the group’s social media pages and website pages, I concluded the group is dedicated to traditional values and women’s empowerment. The group is named for the late Clare Boothe Luce, a pioneer in women’s rights, an editor for Vanity Fair, a US congresswoman, and an ambassador among other accomplishments. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983.

The rejected order story began in March, but I just learned of it via X.

The Center alleges mugs were ordered in the past, and no one questioned the name of the group or the term “conservative women.” However, the latest order was first accepted and then canceled. On the group’s Facebook page, there’s a post claiming, “Shocked over this bias. Yeti could engrave “progressive” but not “conservative.”

On the group’s X page, there’s a video explaining what happened. Questions were raised, asking whether Yeti would apply the same standard to progressives as the conservative group experienced. Some of the group’s members decided to “conduct a test.” The spokesperson said, “There was a simple test,” and the results were “very revealing.”

The women ordered a cup with the words, “Proud Texas Progressive,” That order was promptly filled.

Note the conservative women’s group didn’t have a motto or slogan on the cups. They just wanted the name of the group imprinted—Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women.

On X, The Center posted remarks about this dustup:

“Our goal here is to spotlight a broader issue which is tolerance for one set of beliefs, and exclusion of another. It’s not just a mug order, it’s another example of a double standard and an example of bias against conservatives. It’s the girls in their locker rooms who are being told to stay quiet while a man is using their space. It’s the parents in school board meetings whose microphones are being shut off. It’s the conservatives everywhere getting blasted for “hate" when they are really just standing firm to the values that built America’s foundation.”

Newsweek and some other media did cover this story, and it seems Yeti attempted to defend their position on the matter:

"YETI is unable to customize products with text or logos that are licensed, copyrighted, profane, or political in nature," the email reads.

The group wrote that they were told by a YETI sales manager that the issue was that the phrase "conservative women" is political in nature; the organization, however, says their nonprofit means they are nonpolitical in a legal sense.”

It’s not logical to assert “conservative women” is a political term while “proud progressive” is not.

I’ve long been critical of companies refusing to do business because of political bias, and I’ve applied that to both sides of the aisle. It just makes no sense to me to alienate perfectly good customers, unless of course they’re promoting hate. I can see a company choosing to refuse a hate-inspired order.

But “conservative women”?

Come on, Yeti. How crazy is that?

I confess I’m not a fan of Yeti cups because they keep the liquid too hot. I bought some very nice cups from Amazon, less expensive than a Yeti, and they keep my drink warm or cold very nicely.

Going forward, I won’t patronize this company, not because they refused service to conservatives, but because they took a deep political dive at odds with free expression. No longer will I buy a Yeti product as a gift.

Naturally, on X, many users are vowing to go “Bud Light” on Yeti. Messages abound, including from influencers like @RealKenWalls on X:

“Well, well, well. Isn't it interesting that (according to Grok's best estimations) Yeti brand products are sold to somewhere between 50 and 60% CONSERVATIVES. I guess it is time to BUD LIGHT them. Morons.”

You can follow The Center on X: @cblwomen [https://x.com/cblwomen]

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