Does J.C. Penney's Back-to-School Ad Really Promote Bullying?

A J.C. Penney back-to-school ad that implies kids will be friendless unless they wear the right clothing is promoting bullying, charged a flurry of critics on social media this week. "Your ad about cool kids wearing J.C. Penney clothes, showing a child sitting alone at lunch is despicable," fired off one Facebook user. Another added, "How clueless are you? What a horrible bully-promoting commercial." Twitter users have called it "tone deaf" and "more self-immolation" for the company. The ad was posted online by the retailer in late July and aired as part of a TV campaign earlier this summer.