ISSAQUAH, Wash. — From "working moms just can't catch a break" to "horrendously sexist" — the Internet has spoken out against an advertisement posted by Costello and Costello Real Estate Group of Issaquah.
A KIRO 7 News Facebook viewer messaged us about the ad, which shows Chase and Jeffrey Costello on one side dressed in suits, with the caption "Full Time Professionals." On the other side a mother is pictured with three children; the flipside of the card it says, "Available at THEIR convenience not yours."
This real estate ad has working moms upset. What do you think of it? >>http://kiro.tv/WorkingMomsAd KIRO 7 Eyewitness News
Posted by Alison Grande on Monday, September 14, 2015
Now, the ad is getting blasted farther than the Snoqualmie Ridge area, where it was sent to hundreds of homes. BuzzFeed wrote that the firm's ad was a "cheap shot" at working moms.
Many others on social media nationwide posted about, what some call, an "insulting" ad — asking, "who would you rather represent you?" It's a phrase that's clearly seen in the ad put out by the realtors.
“Who would you rather represent you?” Um, DEFINITELY the woman on the left.
Posted by Scary Mommy on Thursday, September 17, 2015
This is NOT okay.
Posted by Mashable on Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Costello Real Estate Group got so many phone calls and comments about the ad they issued an apology Monday afternoon to KIRO 7 News and their Facebook page, which has since been taken down. Yelp users continue to leave comments on the firm's review page.
"There are thousands of professional agents working in our area who are also dedicated mothers, including several members of our team. Our original hope with this message was to show the value of having a full-time agent in a competitive market, but we completely failed. We have the upmost respect for moms and working mothers, and we know that the job of a mother is far more demanding than what we do as real estate professionals. Again, we are truly sorry." - Costello and Costello Real Estate
Even after the apology women who saw the ad said told KIRO 7 News were reluctant to consider using the company.