A new anonymous Change.org campaign is asking Alex and Ani, the
“lifestyle brand” that markets jewelry to young women and girls, to stop
advertising on WPRO until “as long as habitual misogynist John DePetro remains
on the air,” according to the petition that
you can sign here.
After teachers and
other union members protested a Gina Raimondo fundraiser, the infamous shock
jock called them “union hags” and spelled out the word “whore” on the air.
DePetro’s often
derogatory rhetoric is clearly at odds with how Alex and Ani markets itself as
a “lifestyle brand.”
“Companies that
advertise with WPRO must understand they are empowering a misogynist to
continue attacking women,” according to the video. Alex and Ani’s
“self-proclaimed mission is to spread love and positive energy. So why are they
supporting hate speech by advertising on WPRO’s John DePetro Show?”
Off air, DePetro has
worked closely with Alex and Ani CEO Giovanni Feroce. In May, DePetro hosted a talk series at
a local theater featuring Feroce (as well as former governor
Don Carcieri and Catholic priest Father Bernard Healey).
DePetro has been
plagued by his misogynistic conduct throughout his career. He was fired from a
Boston radio station for calling a female candidate for governor a
“fat lesbian.” After being fired for the comments, he was
by WPRO. In 2012, he was accused of sexually
assaulting a female co-worker at WPRO.
Bob Plain is the editor/publisher of Rhode Island's
Future. Previously, he's worked as a reporter for several different news
organizations both in Rhode Island and across the country.