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Why are ASDA normalising paedophilia and Child Abuse?

960 replies

Sunkisses · 16/06/2020 08:02

Is it OK for ASDA to send parents emails linking to an organisation that normalises paedophilia with red flag phrases such as "love has no age", and recommending books for children that contain explicit descriptions of child sex abuse? Why are they doing this? Are ASDA experts in home schooling and safeguarding? More details in this excellent thread by Safe Schools Alliance: twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1272638132589035520

OP posts:
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35
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 18/06/2020 11:19

Well that's a better email at least. But are they going to do a recall of the existing material? Or let those they sent this stuff to know what they have given their children to read?

SerenityNowwwww · 18/06/2020 11:24

I would have died if this has been in my school. I started school a year early and was born just before the cut-off date anyway - so I was a lot younger than the other kids in my year.

I went to a 'rough' secondary school from a twee little village primary school. I would have probably puked with nerves.

Aesopfable · 18/06/2020 11:25

They should be reviewing their relationship with an organisation which seeks to normalise underage sex/child abuse.

AlltheLemurs · 18/06/2020 11:27

There is a change of tone but it’s still a really crap apology. There is not appropriate interpretation of that description of the 6 year old being abused. None.

Ninkanink · 18/06/2020 11:28

Still not good enough.

SerenityNowwwww · 18/06/2020 11:32

I think ASDA needs to back out of this whole rainbow initiative and think very carefully who is pushing this, and who they are working with (who is advising them). Try to look with new eyes - take the rainbow-tinted glasses off and consider what they are actually there to do (sell socks and spuds).

ProfessorSlocombe · 18/06/2020 11:36

I think ASDA needs to back out of this whole rainbow initiative

Thing is all the other shops are doing it. Nothing worse than being a billy no mates when it comes to marketing.

But that could be another tack ? Don't just write to ASDA, but all the flan-flingers ... Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons etc etc. Engage with them as one and prevent people like DRM trying to jump from one to the other in a game of whack-a-mole.

SarahTancredi · 18/06/2020 11:54

That email is no better.

They should be withdrawing any association with anyone who would do that. There must be a sensible charity that deals with diversity?

Companies seen very happy to block or insult women who raise concerns. They withdraw books written by people they disagree and are quite happy to publically rub our noses in it by donating to another cause they cant possibly have looked into.

The fact they are still working with them after finding out they deliberately targeted children and suggest they read about a six year old giving oral sex ( something everyone else would see as a groomed child being assaulted) is more disturbing than anything else .

SerenityNowwwww · 18/06/2020 11:58

Actually - you don't want to be a sheep in marketing. You want to do something different, Marketing 101.

Ideally, you don't want to piss off and/or insult your core market. And keep a sensible head when you are dealing with sparkly agencies (who generally are pedalling old crap for £££).

truthisarevolutionaryact · 18/06/2020 12:11

The email is a classic example of the assumption that LGBT charities are always beyond reproach. Asda are called out for sending unacceptable material to families for their children and it's a 'whoops'. It's not withdrawn because( despite countless examples of similar issues with similar organisations) these groups are untouchable.

If an organisation's safeguarding boundaries are so non existent that the story about the 6 year old is presented as suitable for children, then what the hell else is being offered to children?
Evidently safeguarding children is very low down on the priorities for Asda compared to cosying up to an LGBT organisation because any organisation with effective safeguarding policies would pull this immediately and apologise unreservedly.

There's nothing wrong with making an error - there's everything wrong with doubling down and continuing because your commitment to an organisation is more important than child safety.

AlltheLemurs · 18/06/2020 12:16

I really feel that they are actually homophobic and don’t understand diversity so shouldn’t be trying to promote it. They should really stick to selling potatoes. If they had done a learning pack about food it would be actually of use.

JackiFazaki · 18/06/2020 12:35

I'm sure they safeguard their foodstuffs more stringently than they do children.

Whoops, sorry you have salmonella...

Aesopfable · 18/06/2020 12:53

Whoops, sorry you have salmonella...

We sincerely apologies for the concern it has caused you. Our supplier was not checked before we dealt with them but we will be keeping the same supplier and haven’t felt the need to more thoroughly check any of the other products they supply.

DuDuDuLangaLangaBingBong · 18/06/2020 12:57

Can someone please send that comparison as part of their email complaint? Grin

JackiFazaki · 18/06/2020 13:04

I did it in my lengthy second email to "Jon".
I've not heard back, disappointing they are sending out the same old whoops shite.
If it was food, there would be a product recall, and ASDA's lawyers shitting themselves.

JackiFazaki · 18/06/2020 13:06

Lot's of shit and shite in that last post of mine.
A bit of a give away as to how cross I am.

cheeseismydownfall · 18/06/2020 13:15

Just sent the following to 'Jon' in Asda Executive Relations, in response to their non-apology (I decided to focus on the secondary school pack, rather than try to cover all the issues).

Dear Jon,

Thank you for your email and for your apology.

However, I must take issue with your statement that this is a matter of misinterpretation. I fully acknowledge that it may be unreasonable to target specific phrases in material such as this, and then question them out of context.

However, I stand firm in my view that there is no 'misinterpretation' involved in my concern that you have explicitly signposted children as young as 11 years old towards reading material that includes a graphic description of oral sex performed by a six year old. This becomes even more concerning when you consider that these home learning packs were unsolicited by parents and specifically designed to be accessed by children outside of the normal safeguarding framework of their school.

I request that you revisit your response to my initial complaint to include an explicit admission that a serious error has occurred, and that the inclusion of this material was wholly inappropriate. I would like to know exactly what steps are being taken to ensure that an error of this nature does not occur again, and would expect this to include a review of your relationship with the organisation that provided these materials.

Regards,
cheeseismydownfall

SarahTancredi · 18/06/2020 13:23

Great email cheese

That's the crux of it isnt it. The fact that they are targeting children no longer protected by the safeguarding policies of their schools. And many many parents just arent aware of what's going on at the moment and wouldnt think to check because other agencies are responsible for that with regards to publication standards and/or parents are homeschooling multiple children and wfh and running a house and an 11 yr old will be expected to sort themselves out work wise.

DuDuDuLangaLangaBingBong · 18/06/2020 13:29

Great email, Cheese!

GilbertMarkham · 18/06/2020 13:36

@cheeseismydownfall

You are a hero(ine).

Thank you on behalf of all parents.

Michelleoftheresistance · 18/06/2020 13:38

Whoops, sorry you have salmonella...We sincerely apologies for the concern it has caused you

And regret your unfortunate misinterpretation of your diagnosis as implying anything not positive or wholly desirable in the service of food hygiene. Food hygiene regulations and laws? What are they?

Tomorrowsanewday · 18/06/2020 14:26

Has anyone any links to other newspaper/media covering this apart from this thread?
My Dsis has 2 young GD, she’s not on MN and I’d like to be able to provide something that she can read herself.
I’m learning a lot from this site that I would have been oblivious to.

I have made the mistake of thinking that sex education for our children was coming from a sensible place. Not always it seems.
Thank goodness there are some keeping their eye on the ball.

Paving the way for MAPS was attempted some years ago and was swiftly slapped down. Seems like they’re trying again.

SerenityNowwwww · 18/06/2020 14:32

I think the Mirror had it didnt they?

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