Hershey’s decision to include a transgender woman in a Canadian advertising campaign promoting Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8 has sparked backlash on social media with some users calling for people to boycott the company’s products.
The chocolate manufacturer brought back its limited-edition Hershey’s SHE bars for a third year on March 1 to “honor the influential women and girls who make an impact on our lives,” the Pennsylvania-based company said in a statement. “The Hershey’s SHE bars serve as a heartwarming reminder to take a moment and shine a light on the women and girls who inspire us every day.”
An image of each one of the women selected will appear on the five different versions of the SHE bar.
In Canada, the candy bar is being branded as HER. One of the five chosen to appear on the Canadian version of the candy bar is Fae Johnstone, a transgender woman, and activist, according to Newsweek.