Patagonia Boycotts Ski Resort After Owners Sponsor Republican Fundraiser

Patagonia has quit providing merchandise to sell at a Wyoming ski resort to protest the owner’s sponsorship of a Republican fundraiser with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

The event also also featured supporters of former President Donald Trump, the Associated Press (AP) reported Thursday.

“Well known for decades for its outspoken support of progressive causes and environmentalism, Patagonia in the past has brought unwanted attention to Facebook and Instagram and the Outdoor Retailer shows in Salt Lake City,” the outlet said.

Now, the company’s stance could mean trouble for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which is a major tourist destination in the state.

“We join with the local community that is using its voice in protest. We will continue to use our business to advocate for stronger policies to protect our planet, end hate speech and support voting rights and a strong democracy,” Patagonia spokeswoman Corley Kenna wrote in a statement Wednesday.

The move means Patagonia gear will not be available in three stores at the resort which Kenna noted were the company’s largest account in the area, the AP report continued:

Resort owners Jay and Karen Kemmerer cosponsored the Aug. 5 GOP fundraiser in Jackson Hole featuring Greene, a Georgia congresswoman suspended from Twitter over allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Greene called the suspension a “Communist-style” attack. Also there were Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, and Mark Meadows, Trump’s former White House chief of staff. Admission started at $2,000 per couple.

Last year, Patagonia added the phrase “Vote the Assholes Out” to the back of tags on its updated line of shorts, Breitbart News reported in September.

Patagonia tags have a new message. pic.twitter.com/0azyAVmOuh

— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) September 10, 2020

Meanwhile, the resort has been an industry leader when it comes to recycling and reducing energy use and will keep offering “world-class brands” in its shops, President Mary Kate Buckley explained in a statement Thursday.

“We are proud to be the largest mountain resort operating on 100% wind today. We will remain focused on operating a world-class mountain resort and protecting the health and safety of our guests and employees,” Buckley concluded.