Lush sparks backlash after encouraging customers not to celebrate Australia Day

Furious Aussies have blasted popular cosmetic retailer Lush after a customer was urged not to celebrate Australia Day on January 26. 

A shopper shared a photo of a flyer an employee had slipped into her bag while she paid for her items at the her local store.  

‘Australia Day on January 26 is not a date to celebrate,’ the flyer stated in the red, yellow and black of the Aboriginal flag. 

Lush has joined Aboriginal-led enterprise Clothing The Gaps to roll out its ‘Not a Date to Celebrate’ campaign in stores across Australia. 

As part of the campaign, customers can sign an in-store petition to ‘acknowledge the harm’ of celebrating Australia Day on January 26. 

The petition will call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to recognise that Australia Day is not a day of celebration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The furious shopper accused Lush of ‘force-feeding’ opinions to its customers and threatened to boycott the chain over the campaign. 

‘Sooooo…. Went into #lushcosmetics to make one of my many purchases… will have to reconsider whether I actually return after this appeared in my bag,’ she wrote. 

A shopper shared a photo of a flyer an employee had slipped into her bag while she paid for her items at the popular cosmetic retailer (pictured)

Furious Aussies have blasted Lush after a customer was urged to ditch Australia Day on January 26 (pictured, Australia Day celebrations on the Gold Coast)

‘One thing I can’t stand is being force-fed an opinion… where does this rabbit hole come to a peaceful exit.

‘My family moved here when I was a baby and are so blessed with the life this country has enabled us to live. We pay for the land we live on… we work hard to be able to be in a position to do so. We celebrate Australia Day for that reason.

‘Maybe Lush should stick to selling bath products and leave their opinions to themselves.. be an activist association if that’s what you desire, that isn’t why people buy your products. I will not be signing you petition…’

Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the campaign in the comments, with many agreeing Australia Day should be celebrated. 

‘Totally agree with you. The majority of Australians certainly celebrate Australia Day because it’s a day to be proud of living in such a beautiful country, to gather as a community, united and hopeful for the future,’ one woman wrote. 

‘It’s only one specific group that are against Australia Day, but we don’t let them ruin it for the majority.’

‘I’d go back into the store, place that on the counter without saying a word and walk back out,’ a second said. 

‘Funny because Lush is founded in England lol how ironic,’ a third commented. 

Lush has joined Aboriginal-led enterprise Clothing The Gaps to roll out its ‘Not a Date to Celebrate’ campaign in stores across Australia (a Lush store is pictured)

However, others described the woman’s post as ‘dramatic’ and ‘rage bait’, saying she had made the choice to enter the Lush store. 

‘You’re not being “force-fed an opinion” – you made a choice to shop there,’ one said.

‘Lush has always been outspoken on various human rights issues and political issues. I’m sure you know this –  this rage bait is unnecessary, Clothing the Gaps is a great foundation,’ a second wrote. 

‘Why not celebrate the date you moved here instead?’ a third suggested. 

On January 8, Lush will launch an ‘Always Will Be’ soap made with natural ingredients ethically sourced from First Nations suppliers. 

The retailer will donate 75 per cent of each sale to Clothing The Gaps to go towards education and advocacy campaigns that benefit Aboriginal communities.  

Daily Mail has contacted Lush for comment.