Why #Boycottblackmores is blowing up Twitter

Mass calls for a boycott is something no business wants to see – but that’s the exact position an iconic Aussie health firm has found itself in today.

Calls to boycott a company is something no business wants to see trending on Twitter.

But that’s the position Australian health supplements company Blackmores has found itself in on Saturday after the vitamin empire’s major shareholder, Marcus Blackmore, gave his two cents on the upcoming Voice to Parliament Referendum.

Mr Blackmore declared his opposition to the proposed Voice to Parliament on Thursday, pledging his support for Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s ‘vote no’ campaign.

A Blackmores Group spokesperson said it was not able to comment on the views of Mr Blackmore who has not been an employee or director of the company since late 2020.

“His views are completely independent of Blackmores Group,” they 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.”

Marcus Blackmore says he supports the no vote in the Voice to parliament referendum. Picture: John Feder.

Mr Blackmore, a major donor to the conservative campaign group Advance and has contributed over $70,000 to the Coalition in the last financial year, told The Australian Financial Reviewhe is not satisfied that there is a need for an Indigenous advisory body in federal parliament.

Instead he believes that on-the-ground services for Indigenous communities should be the priority.

“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 the publication.

#Boycottblackmores shot to the top end of Australia’s Twitter trending list with outrage at Blackmore’s stance flowing in thick and fast.

Mr Blackmore, whose father founded the supplement powerhouse, also praised Indigenous ‘No’ vote campaigner and businessman Warren Mundine and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Indigenous advocacy.

There are calls en masse to boycott Blackmores products.

The official Yes campaign launched in Adelaide this week with a $5 million donation from the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for “politicising” the Voice.

“It’s not like it’s very subtle what’s going on here. It’s very obvious,” Albanese said in Adelaide this week.