Kellogg’s has become the latest company to face conservative boycott calls after transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney was photographed posing and linking arms with the brand’s iconic “Tony the Tiger” mascot at an awards ceremony.
Mulvaney, a male who identifies as female, shared a video on Instagram of him interacting with and posing for photos with the Frosted Flakes mascot during the Tony Awards on June 11.
“Watch tonight for a wildly camp moment,” Mulvaney wrote in the caption, noting that his trip to the Tony Awards involved some type of partnership with Facebook parent Meta.
The post, which showed Tony the Tiger and gala dress-wearing Mulvaney clinging to the mascot’s arm, garnered considerable attention online.
Many of the reactions were critical and along the lines of the “go woke, go broke” rallying cry of those who oppose corporations pushing left-wing agendas.
“Folks, we have a new boycott to add to the list and I’m truly sorry to say it because I love this brand,” conservative political strategist Joey Mannarino said in a post on Twitter.
“The Frosted Flakes mascot, Tony the Tiger, has just posed for a photo with Dylan Mulvaney and even acted like a fan. That’s always been my line. You associate with Dylan Mulvaney and you’re done with me,” he continued.
“I’ll be dumping out my Frosted Flakes,” he added.
Conservative media personality Rob Smith took to Twitter to voice his outrage over Mulvaney being linked with the Frosted Flakes mascot.
“Yes, they’re coming for your kids,” he said.
Kellogg’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the boycott calls.
Kellogg’s ‘Together With Pride’
The Kellogg Company has in the past pushed progressive causes, in some cases sparking controversy.
In 2021, it partnered with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) on a campaign ahead of “Pride Month” that involved the release of a limited edition LGBT-themed cereal dubbed “Together With Pride.”
“Together With Pride cereal marks the latest chapter in a years long partnership with GLAAD,” Doug VanDeVelde, General Manager of Kellogg U.S. Cereal Category, said in a statement.
By Tom Ozimek