Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but not when they're thrown at them.
Spicer Greene Jewelers, a North Carolinian jewelry store, found itself in a compromising position after it had unveiled a new billboard advertising its products, which read, "Sometimes, it's ok to throw rocks at girls..."
Sinclair-affiliate News13 reported that the billboard has sparked controversy among community members.
@SpicerGreene Lets count the ways your billboard is unacceptable. 1) allusion to violence agnst women. 2) girls 3) stereotypes. #takeitdown
— NotSittingDown (@litchik) March 23, 2017
Images of the billboard have circulated social media.
Hey @SpicerGreene, it's never cool to make light of domestic abuse or violence. #BadAd
— Elyssa Mann (@MissElyssa92) March 23, 2017
Ellen Perry, a literature and humantiies teacher at UNCA and AB Tech, said she's planning a protest outside the store on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. She said she's supported by the Women's Rights Committee, Stronger Together WNC North, and the Equal Rights Amendment Committee within Indivisible Asheville.
Perry said she will continue protesting until the controversial billboard is removed.
Spicer Greene Jewelers issued a public apology on Facebook.
In an interview with News13, co-owner Eva-Michelle Spicer, who is a member of a women's support group in North Carolina, said she was saddened that the billboard's message was interpreted negatively.
"The billboard was intent to be a nostalgic thought of a childhood teaching," Spicer said. "That it's not ok to throw rocks at girls, it's not ok to throw rocks at anyone... It saddens me that it was taken that way, because it certainly wasn't intended."
The store said it will donate 10 percent of its sales through Sunday to Helpmate because "domestic violence and rape culture is not something to be taken lightly at all," she continued.
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