Patagonia pulls products from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boycotting the popular ski resort after owner co-hosted GOP fundraiser with Mark Meadows and Marjorie Taylor Greene
Patagonia will no longer sell its products at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort after one of the hotel's owners co-hosted a fundraiser for the House Freedom Fund featuring Mark Meadows, Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Trump-supporting Republicans.
Corley Kenna, Patagonia's head of policy and communications, confirmed to DailyMail.com that the company officially cut ties with the ski resort Tuesday. It is still sorting existing inventory, but has canceled upcoming orders to the three stores in the resort.
The company's move came a week and a half after Jay Kemmerer, a co-owner of the resort, co-hosted a fundraiser for the House Freedom Caucus, a bloc of conservative Congress members allied closely with former President Trump.
The August 5 fundraiser was held at Spring Creek Ranch Resort to benefit the House Freedom Fund, the fundraising branch of the caucus. The MAGA event had a minimum admission of $2,000 a couple, and included Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Jim Jordan and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Patagonia will no longer sell its products at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort after one of its owners hosted a benefit for the House Freedom Fund on August 5
The company officially ended its partnership with the three stores in the resort on August 17
The event was held to benefit the House Freedom Fund, the fundraising branch of the caucus
Kemmerer and his wife, Karen, have a history of supporting Republicans, according to the Jackson Hole News & Guide. In 2019, the Kemmerers attended a fundraiser that collected $1 million for the Trump Victory Fund. In the two years before the successful fundraiser, the Kemmerers donated $200,000 to the Trump reelection campaign.
This year alone they donated over $100,000 to conservative candidates and political action committees.
Patagonia will reconsider its partnership with the popular ski resort when it sees 'a demonstrated commitment to a healthy planet and healthy communities from the owners of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort,' Kenna confirmed.
She explained, 'Those that know us in Jackson Hole are aware that we make business decisions and build relationships in alignment with our values and advocacy efforts.'
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is the company's largest retailer in the popular ski town.
Mary Kate Buckley, president of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, told WyoFile, which first reported the story, that the resort would 'continue to offer world-class brands across our retail locations with the aim to provide the best service and product assortment for our guests.'
'We have been a leader in the ski industry in adopting initiatives to reduce our energy consumption, recycle the consumables used by our employees and guests, and treat the spectacular natural habitat which surrounds us with vision and care,' Buckley said.
She made no comment on the GOP event or Kemmerer's contributions to Republican candidates.
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has continued to work towards Trump's reelection and perpetuated false narratives that Trump would be reinstated
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was suspended from Twitter for spreading false information claiming that the Food and Drug Administration 'should not approve the covid vaccines'
Rep. Jim Jordan has continuously spread false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged
The outdoor gear and clothing company said it is boycotting the resort to 'join with the local community using its voice in protest' as it continues 'to use our business to advocate for policies to protect our planet, support thriving communities and a strong democracy.'
The House Freedom Caucus, is considered to be the most conservative and furthest-right bloc within the House Republican Conference. Some Jackson Hole residents protested the event and called for a boycott of the resort, which is among the most popular spots in one of the most Republican states, according to the Jackson Hole News & Guide.
Protesters targeted Greene's spewing of dangerous conspiracy theories including QAnon and COVID misinformation, the politicians' stances on climate change, and the role protesters saw Greene and Jordan take in perpetuating the false narrative that Trump won the 2020 election.
Some, like Marisa Sullivan, 35, made decisions to protest the resort over the Kemmerers' politics for years. Sullivan told the Jackson Hole News & Guide that she previously stopped buying passes to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 'because of the things that they support.'
'If you're going to give people that kind of money, I don't want it to be going to things like this,' she said. 'This is ridiculous to me.'
Jay Kemmerer, a co-owner of the resort, co-hosted the fundraiser. He and wife Karen have donated over $100,000 to conservative candidates and PACs this year alone
Jackson Hole residents protested the event and called for a boycott of the resort, which is among the most popular spots in one of the most Republican states
But other protesters were not as decisive. 'It makes me not want to buy a pass,' said Natalie McBranch, 26. 'But I don't know. They make so much money. Is me not buying a pass really going to change anything?'
Patagonia is known for being a politically conscious company. Last year the clothing company joined a long list of companies who stopped advertising on Facebook and Instagram. Patagonia boycotted the social media companies 'as part of our commitment to stop the spread of hate speech and misinformation on climate.'
Several US firms joined the call from activists to halt ad spending on Facebook over concerns the leading social network has fallen short in efforts to crack down on hate speech and incitements to violence.
Patagonia said on Twitter it was joining the Stop the Hate for Profit initiative unveiled by civil rights activists last week. It urged brands to boycott the social media giant claiming it 'promotes hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism and violence'.
Patagonia will reconsider its partnership when they see 'a demonstrated commitment to a healthy planet and healthy communities' from the resort
'For too long, Facebook has failed to take sufficient steps to stop the spread of hateful lies and dangerous propaganda on its platform,' a statement from the company reads in part.
'From secure elections to a global pandemic to racial justice, the stakes are too high to sit back and let the company continue to be complicit in spreading disinformation and fomenting fear and hatred.'
In 2017 the company sued then-President Trump after he rolled back protections on national monuments.