“Boycott CoverGirl” campaign goes viral

Marisa Tomsky Staff Writer

CoverGirl’s beauty sponsorship with the NFL has sparked controversy amongst its fans as more information is released about the domestic abuse case against Ray Rice.

CoverGirl prides itself on being the “Official Beauty Sponsor of the NFL,” and because of this sponsorship, the company released a full cosmetic line dedicated to each team in the league last year.

Through this launch female fans can now rock a different type of smokey eye with their favorite team’s colors.

This beauty line is available on their website, Covergirl.com. The collection can be found through a link in the middle of the homepage that says “Glam Up for Game Day.”

“We developed our NFL program to celebrate the more than 80 million female football fans,” according to the CoverGirl website.

This would normally be every female football lover’s dream. However, the recent controversy surrounding the NFL and its commissioner Roger Goodell has started to affect CoverGirl.

“I think people are reacting properly, bringing attention to it and continuing to talk about it,” senior Thomas Worden said. “The only thing that matters to the NFL is money, and sponsors and the buying public are reacting the same way; we won’t stand for this.”

Adele Stan, senior digital editor for The American Prospect, released an edited photo of a model wearing the Raven’s team colors, featuring her with a black eye.

Since then, she has been urging people to not support the NFL or CoverGirl until the situation is resolved.

Stan took to her Twitter account, sending out messages to her followers to tell CoverGirl and the NFL that Goodell should be fired.

“Roger Goodell hopefully realizes he made a mistake and that a two game suspension was not enough,” junior Meral Kathwari said. “If NFL players are accused of any domestic violence they should be kicked out because they are looked up to by many as role models.”

Stan has also created a Pinterest board titled, “NFL #CoverGirlcott.” It features more of the NFL CoverGirl models altered so that they also have black eyes.

Goodell is receiving heat because he issued Rice a two-game suspension. The public believes Goodell hasn’t handled the situation properly and should therefore be removed from his position.

“It’s a messed up situation, with a possible cover up by the NFL and the Ravens, and domestic violence is horrible by itself,” Worden said. “There was a report that he gave the two game suspensions as a favor to the Raven’s owner. It’s obviously way too low.”

CoverGirl responded to the outcries of their fans, and promised they were encouraging the NFL to take action against the situation.

“The way CoverGirl is taking a stand speaks volumes and sends a clear message that there no excuse for domestic violence,” said Kathwari.

Until something is done about the situation, Stan is continuing to defend her point.