Vermont Teddy Bear to meet with advocates
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Vermont Press Bureau - Published: January 21, 2005
MONTPELIER – The makers of a controversial teddy bear wearing a straitjacket announced Thursday that it would meet with mental health advocates early next month.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., based in Shelburne, has been the subject of protest by mental health advocates who say the company's "Crazy for You Bear" is offensive and in poor taste.
"At this time, we are not sure of the scope of the meeting or all the parties involved," Elisabeth Robert, the company's president and CEO said in a statement about the Feb. 8 meeting at Vermont Teddy Bear.
The first complaints about the bear came from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill's Vermont chapter, which enlisted the help of Gov. James Douglas in its quest to have the bear removed from the company's shelves.
The bear comes with commitment papers. Mental health advocates called such marketing "tasteless," while the company, which has said it would continue selling the bear through Feb. 14, says it is meant to convey how people might feel about their sweeties on Valentine's Day.
The company has been deluged with e-mails, phone calls and letters since news of the bear was first reported about two weeks ago. Since then, mental health advocates around the country have mobilized to force the company to stop selling the bear. Even Douglas has come out against the controversial toy.
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