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 "I've decided to switch from South Dakota to another float
because people's political agendas were getting in the way of what
should be a purely entertainment driven event," Jett said in a
statement released Friday. "I will remain focused on entertaining
the millions of people watching, who will be celebrating a great
American tradition."
Orlando Veras, Macy's parade spokesman, told The Associated Press on
Friday that a new performer for the South Dakota float will be
announced later. Veras said that the annual parade in New York City
is about entertainment, not advocacy, and that Macy's was making the
change "to prevent any further distraction from our entertainment
mission."
"The Parade has never taken on, promoted or otherwise engaged in
social commentary, political debate, or other forms of advocacy, no
matter how worthy," Veras said in a statement. "Macy's intention is
only to provide a range of entertaining elements and performers free
of endorsements or agendas."
Some South Dakota farmers and ranchers voiced concern about the
choice to put Jett on the float because she is a supporter of People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which promotes a vegetarian
diet and criticizes livestock production practices.
South Dakota Cattlemen's Association President Cory Eich, who farms
and ranches near Canova in eastern South Dakota, said Friday that he
thinks it was a mistake to select Jett because her stands don't mesh
with the state.
"Coming from such a rural state where livestock is such a part of
our life, we didn't think it was appropriate," he said.
Eich said his association "didn't go looking for a fight," but once
Jett's affiliation with PETA was brought to the group's attention,
officials felt they had to respond accordingly. "I wish it never would have gotten brought out," he said.
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Dan Mathews, PETA's senior vice president, said that he's happy with
the publicity generated by the controversy.
"Thanks to South Dakota's reactionary ranchers, people across the
country have learned why Joan Jett supports PETA," Mathews said.
"The meat trade can't stand any scrutiny of its cruelty," he said.
South Dakota Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen has said that many people
mistakenly assumed state officials selected Jett to appear on the
float. None of the artists the state proposed were available or
willing to appear in the parade, so Macy's selected Joan Jett and
the Blackhearts, he said.
The state pays $175,000 to support the Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade and have a float in the event, and $5,000 of that goes to pay
expenses for the artist on the float, officials have said.
The South Dakota float, which has appeared each year since 2010,
features Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Black Hills and more.
Don McLean, the singer of "American Pie," appeared on the float last
year. Previous years' entries featured Neil Diamond and Mannheim
Steamroller.
More than 3 million people are expected to watch the parade on the
streets of New York, with more than 50 million watching the event on
television nationwide.
[Associated
Press; DIRK LAMMERS]
Follow Dirk Lammers on
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http://twitter.com/ddlammers.
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