December 15, 2025
Put Kohl’s on the naughty list; inappropriate ad enrages families nationwide, says AFA spokesperson Monica Cole
‘We cannot allow this casual approach toward inappropriate behavior to continue in the public sphere — enough is enough!’
TUPELO, Miss. — Parents are outraged at a recent Kohl’s Christmas commercial that makes light of foul language as a crude attempt at humor. In the commercial, actress Ellie Kemper, AKA “Kohl’s Mom,” and NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo discuss how to assemble a dollhouse, and Antetokounmpo admits to using “the elf word,” an obvious reference to swearing. While Kemper admonishes him, saying “Santa’s gonna be so mad,” the lighthearted feel of the advertisement promotes a casual approach towards curse words in an advertisement seen by millions of children around the world.
“Kohl’s needs to be held accountable,” said Monica Cole, director of OneMillionMoms.com, an affiliate of American Family Association (AFA). “It is unnecessary to hint at profanity in any commercial, especially the f-word in a Christmas ad. It is extremely irresponsible because everyone knows children repeat what they hear.”
Founded by the late Pastor Don Wildmon in the face of a rapidly deteriorating moral landscape, AFA is one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, with hundreds of thousands of supporters. For over 40 years, AFA has been at the forefront of strengthening the moral foundations of American culture, equipping Americans to live out a biblical worldview. OneMillionMoms.com, a division of the American Family Association, was created to give moms a voice against the insidious messages aimed at today’s vulnerable children.
“It’s insane to imagine that we have to protect our children from foul language in publicized commercials,” said Cole. “We cannot allow this casual approach toward inappropriate behavior to continue in the public sphere — enough is enough!”
AFA’s latest film, “Culture Warrior: Don Wildmon and the Battle for Decency,” documents the courageous life and far-reaching impact of Mississippi preacher and AFA Founder Rev. Donald Wildmon. “Culture Warrior” is a multi-faceted chronicle of the rise of Christian activism, taking viewers through some of the most contested culture war battles of the past 50 years. Through a dynamic use of archival footage, music, and modern-day interviews, “Culture Warrior” gives viewers powerful insights into their own recent history. The documentary is available to watch for free on the film’s website, culturewarrior.movie.
To read more from AFA about the American return to biblical values, click here.
For over 40 years, AFA has operated within the mission to inform, equip, and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission. Founded in 1977, AFA has long been on the front lines of America’s culture war. Today, AFAis one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, with nearly a million online supporters and approximately 110,000 subscribers to The Stand (formerly known as the AFA Journal), the ministry’s monthly magazine. Find AFA Action Alerts here. In addition, AFA owns and operates nearly 180 radio stations across the country under the American Family Radio banner.
For more information on the American Family Association, visitwww.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or X @AmericanFamAssc.
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To interview an AFA spokesperson, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
