Prominent conservative figures in Poland are leading a boycott against IKEA following the withdrawal of the company's ads from a television station that aired controversial remarks opposing the EU-proposed migration pact. The remarks, made by TV Republika commentator Jan Pietrzak earlier in the week, suggested relocating immigrants to Poland to Auschwitz and other former Nazi German camps. Subsequently, Marek Król, another commentator from the station, proposed that migrants in Poland should have a microchip like dogs or numbers tattooed on their hands to be easily identified.
TV Republika's program director, Michał Rachoń, issued a statement expressing strong disagreement with Marek Król's statement and opposing the dehumanisation of people. However, the broadcaster defended Jan Pietrzak against criticism.
Notably, a social media user pointed out that IKEA's ads were present on TV Republika's YouTube channel before Marek Król's comments. The user questioned IKEA's sponsorship of a channel promoting homophobia, racism, and xenophobia, adding fuel to the controversy. The situation reflects a complex intersection of political, social, and corporate dynamics in Poland.
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Response IKEA
In response to the controversy, the Polish branch of IKEA expressed gratitude for bringing attention to the issue, stating they were unaware of the ad placement handled by an external agency. They announced the cessation of advertisements on TV Republika starting the next day. Similarly, mBank, another company with prior ad appearances on TV Republika, released a statement affirming they do not support the channel's activities and have ceased airing advertisements. Both IKEA and mBank swiftly distanced themselves from TV Republika's controversial content, emphasizing a commitment to values aligned with inclusivity.
Source: NotesfromPoland
Reklama w tv republika 😡😡😡@IKEAPolska dlaczego sponsorujecie telewizję propagującą : homofobię, rasizm i ksenofobię? pic.twitter.com/YUDbwiOoYI
— Ewa (@Ewa0909Ewa) January 2, 2024
