Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220104
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CANTON, OHIO LENGTH: Medium
The Rev. Larry Wilgus, pastor of the interdenominational Christian Life Center, said Chrysler's marketing chief, John B. Damoose, wrote in a letter that after its commitment to Playboy is finished in April, the company will stop advertising in the magazine.
Rita McKay, spokeswoman for the Jeep-Eagle division, confirmed that Chrysler decided not to run Playboy ads past April.
"I am totally surprised, happy and jubilant," Wilgus said. "It's extremely satisfying to see that Chrysler has decided to return to upholding family values."
A year ago, Wilgus told millions of television viewers that the airbag in his Chrysler New Yorker may have saved his life when he hit a delivery truck. Although he was going about 50 mph, he suffered only a cut nose.
Last month, he wrote a letter to Chrysler, saying he didn't approve of its ads in Playboy, which he said is degrading to women. He also said he would buy no more Chrysler products.
"At the time our media commitment was made, it was not clearly understood how controversial this advertising would be to a portion of the public," Damoose said.
Cindy Rakowitz, spokeswoman for Playboy magazine, did not return a telephone call to her New York office.
Wilgus said he learned of the Playboy advertising from the American Family Association, a religious group based in Tupelo, Miss., that opposes sex, violence and profanity on television and materials it deems obscene. The organization asked the 425,000 subscribers to its American Family Association Journal to boycott Chrysler.
by CNB