Group Angry with JCPenney, Ellen DeGeneres Partnership

(EndPlay Staff Reports) - JCPenney is being criticized by an anti-gay group for partnering with comedian Ellen DeGeneres, recently named the company's new spokesperson.

"Funny that JCPenney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families," stated One Million Moms, a division of the American Family Association, on its website .

The group's assertion that the retail chain is "jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon" isn't changing JCPenney's support of DeGeneres.

"At JCPenney, we couldn't think of a better partner to help us put the fun back into the retail experience," E! Online reported company president Michael Francis said.

Yahoo! Shine stated that the daytime talk show host also likely has the support of her more than 3 million viewers as the blog credited her with "proving that talent and likability can override bigotry."

"She's someone who doesn't seem like she'd lie to you, because even when her job as a sitcom star was on the line in 1997, she never did," the blog stated.

Shine reported that the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation gave its support to JCPenney for its choice.

So did many supporters by stating their views on JCPenney's Facebook page.

"I'm so glad you have and are keeping Ellen way to go on standing up to bigotry," one wrote.

"Thank you for standing by your acceptance of all people," another commented. "We shop at your store from time to time, but will be going there more often to support you."