- Unlike dozens of other companies, FedEx has stood firm with the National Rifle Association
- Companies cutting FedEx ties
Despite a massive online campaign and an exodus by other major companies that had previously partnered with the National Rifle Association in various ways, FedEx has stood firm that it will not cut ties with the group. So other companies are cutting ties with the shipping giant.
FedEx put out a statement last week insisting that it would continue to offer a 26 percent shipping discount to members of the National Rifle Association’s Business Alliance, even in the aftermath of the tragic Parkland, Florida mass school shooting. Moreover, it defended the special price for those who align themselves with the NRA, suggesting that it would be discrimination to make them pay full price.
“FedEx is a common carrier under Federal law and therefore does not and will not deny service or discriminate against any legal entity regardless of their policy positions or political views,” the company argued. “FedEx has never set or changed rates for any of our millions of customers around the world in response to their politics, beliefs or positions on issues.”
On Tuesday, ThinkProgress exclusively reported that FedEx also has a secret deal with the NRA and the gun industry to bend its own rules on gun shipments. “Some customers have been approved for an exception to ship firearms with a 2-day (AM or PM) service,” a confidential internal document revealed. Those customers included 86 firearms manufacturers and dealers, including Smith & Wesson, Colt, Glock, SIG Sauer, and the National Rifle Association itself.
And other companies took notice.
World of Wonder, the production company for such TV shows as RuPaul’s Drag Race, Million Dollar Listing, and Big Freedia, announced on Wednesday that it would no longer ship with FedEx.
“We support the call to boycott the NRA by no longer using FedEx for our company’s shipping needs. We salute the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We are inspired by their leadership and are committed to their safety!” the co-founder Randy Barbato said in a statement.
ICM Partners, a major Hollywood talent agency, confirmed to Forbes on Thursday that it has stopped using FedEx for its shipping needs. Piper Pirabo, a client and a previous Golden Globe nominee for her acting, tweeted the news approvingly.
According to Forbes, another major talent agency, CAA, may also be following ICM’s lead. Showrunner, screenwriter and CAA client Jeffrey Lieber tweeted Thursday night that after urging the company to boot FedEx, he’d received an affirmative reply.
A CAA spokesman did not immediately respond to a ThinkProgress inquiry attempting to confirm the move.
With reports from Think Progress
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