After inviting transgender TikTok personality Dylan Mulvaney to appear on its The Beauty Of podcast series, Ulta Beauty has received threats of a boycott.
David Lopez, a gender-nonconforming Latinx celebrity hairdresser, is joined by TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney, an actor and comedian with over 8 million fans. Mulvaney further on the pair’s conversation on identity and their respective paths in life, saying,
Hundreds of people responded to Ulta’s social media threads that featured the podcast clip by calling it “misogynist,” sexism, and a call to boycott the firm.
To “widen the lens surrounding traditional beauty standards,” Ulta said in a statement released over the weekend, “we think beauty is for everyone… regardless of how someone identifies, they deserve our respect.” The podcast is a part of the company’s “Beauty&” promotion.
Quoted Words of Dylan Mulvaney
Dylan Mulvaney, a “girl,” talks about being a mother and being a female with David Lopez, a “gender-fluid” hairstylist, and show host.
Customers felt Ulta was making fun of women by airing the podcast episode, “The Beauty of Girlhood with Dylan Mulvaney.” It’s worth noting that Ulta has disabled user commentary on the episode’s YouTube video.
In a preview for the show, Mulvaney said, “I can find love, I know I can still be a performer, I know I can have a family — I want to be a parent one day, and I certainly can.” Ulta was promoting the episode.
To paraphrase, “There is still a long way to go in the story since, when I was grieving ‘Boy Dylan,’ I had no idea those things were available to me.”
So much stigma, so much embarrassment. The influencer said, “And it was odd because I knew I was trans and still experienced transphobia of myself.
User Perspectives that Aren’t All the Same
Twitter users have accused an American retail business of promoting “womanface,” and they have urged followers to stop shopping at the chain.
I honestly think more women need to wake up to this bullshit,” tweeted one person. In my opinion, many of us have kept silent because we were worried about offending others or appearing rude. For the time being, at least, I’m done. I won’t keep silent. That #womanface hashtag is really offensive. #boycottulta.”
Another remarked, “I have dropped some big $$$ at Ulta, but they just got their last cent from me.” Normally I’m not a fan of cancel culture or boycotts, but Ulta really stepped over the line by making fun of women (their primary customer demographic).
Some have spoken out in defense of Mulvaney and the incident.
Excellent program!! My god, I adore it! It’s great that Ulta recognizes that the name of a podcast (or a person’s gender) shouldn’t be a barrier when shopping for cosmetics. Simply said, who gives a damn? As one user put it on Twitter, “If it makes people feel fantastic, seen, and gorgeous — that’s all we can aim for — for everyone.”
For their advocacy of trans people’s rights and opinions, another user commented, “I will never #BoycottUlta.” That only means I’ll be giving them more of both my time and money. My undying adoration for @ultabeauty!!
Ulta stated that they want the podcast to “include topics that extend the lens surrounding established beauty standards” in response to the criticism.
Conclusion
Ulta Beauty is facing boycott threats after including Dylan Mulvaney in their podcast series. Mulvaney is a trans actor, humorist, and content producer who played Elder White in Book of Mormon. Mulvaney joined genderfluid hairdresser David Lopez on a beauty retailer’s podcast to explore ‘girlhood’ “We think beauty is for everyone,” Ulta said. No matter how someone identifies, we respect them.