Why Aussies are boycotting Blackmores vitamins

Blackmores has found itself at the centre of a social media storm as people threaten to boycott the vitamin company over its perceived political beliefs.

Blackmores has found itself at the centre of an unexpected social media firestorm as Twitter users call for a boycott over the political beliefs of one of the vitamin giant’s biggest backers.

Major shareholder Marcus Blackmore, whose father started the company, publicly declared last week he would be voting “no” in the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – igniting a fiery debate.

However the Blackmores company has said Mr Blackmore’s views don’t represent those held by the company, and he hasn’t worked at the business since 2020.

The hashtag “BoycottBlackmores” had trended every day on Twitter following Mr Blackmore’s comments, as some pledged to avoid the company’s products while others insisted the 78-year-old’s views didn’t matter.

Mr Blackmore last week said he would support Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is calling for Australians to vote no in the referendum in a campaign funded by conservative group Advance.

People are boycotting Blackmores after Marcus Blackmore – who hasn’t worked at the company since 2020 – said he would be voting no. Picture: John Feder/The Australian

“If Jacinta tells me I should vote no, I am voting no. She obviously knows a lot more about the Aboriginal issues than I do,” he told Nine newspapers.

“I have not been convinced by the Prime Minister or anybody else that I should vote yes. It’s no different to business. If you’re no good at sales, employ a salesman.”

Social media users encouraged a boycott, suggesting Mr Blackmore’s views were akin to the Blackmores company supporting “bigotry” and “racism”.

In one image shared to Twitter, an image of a Blackmores vitamin bottle was edited to read “VOTE NO”, with the product described as “racist relief”.

#BoycottBlackmorespic.twitter.com/JJ9Io1XLzw

— Rupert's Conscience (@RupertsConscie1) February 25, 2023

“#VoteYes … Blackmore is just another pale, stale, white male, Liberal donor, basking in a 1950s sunlamp,” another user said.

Others, however, argued that Mr Blackmore’s voting revelation wasn’t so monumental.

“People want to #boycottblackmores because the founder said he’d be voting ‘no’ in the Indigenous Voice referendum. When you start threatening people to vote your way, we are truly outside the bounds of normal democratic discourse,” one user wrote.

“To be clear, I’m not defending Marcus Blackmore’s position on the Voice. Just defending his right to express and campaign for it, and not be slandered by destructive anti-democratic voices who would love to cancel him and bring his business to ruin,” said another.

Mr Blackmore no longer works for his family’s vitamin empire, and hasn’t since 2020 – though he remains a major shareholder.

He reportedly donated $35,000 to Advance and more than $70,000 to the Coalition in the last financial year.

A company spokesperson said Mr Blackmore’s views didn’t represent those of the company. Picture: Blackmores

A spokesperson for Blackmores Group said Mr Blackmore’s views didn’t represent those held by the company.

“His views are completely independent of Blackmores Group,” the spokesperson said.

“Blackmores is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all people and values and celebrates diversity, inclusivity and equality for employees, customers, partners and those in the community.”

A “vote yes” campaign has also been launched, backed by a $5 million donation from the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton hasn’t yet revealed the Liberal Party’s position and has repeatedly raised concerns about the amount of detail that would be provided prior to the referendum.