TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie apologized to the public this week for appearing in an interview with Focus on the Family’s Jim Daly and for working on a potential charity partnership between the two organizations to provide shoes to children in developing countries.
Mycoskie said he agreed to explore the partnership and do the interview before he fully understood “the extent of Focus on the Family’s beliefs” and said he regarded the decision to work with FOTF as a mistake. The apology came after media outlets criticized Mycoskie for partnering with FOTF, calling them a “anti-gay, anti-choice group.”
Christianity Today published an exclusive response from Daly, who said they have yet to hear from TOMS about the issue, but said, “we interviewed Blake because we thought his story would inspire other Christians to act on their faith like he has and to help others in need.” Regarding the media criticism that influenced Mycoskie’s decision, Daly said, “While we may disagree with those who spearheaded this effort to get TOMS to distance themselves from us, our desire is not so much to defeat them at the ballot box as it is to bring them closer to the heart of Jesus Christ—the only hope any of us have for the forgiveness and overcoming of our sins. … [It’s an] unfortunate statement about the culture we live in, when an organization like ours is deemed unfit.”
A press release from FOTF said they still hope to air the interview with Mycoskie, but that he has the right by contract to block it as he wishes.
