If you’re having trouble procuring tampons, blame Amy Schumer, I guess.
According to Time Magazine, Procter & Gamble—the makers of Tampax—claimed the comedian is partially at fault for America’s current tampon shortage because she…recorded a series of commercials for them? “Retail sales growth has exploded,” spokeswoman Cheri McMaster told Time, referring to the company’s sales since the start of the ad campaign in July 2020. McCaster claims demand has been up 7.7% over the past two years, and the company is running its Auburn, Maine, Tampax factory 24/7 to meet demand. Per Time, P&G’s tampons are all produced in this one factory, while its competitor Edgewell Personal Care (which makes Playtex and O.b.) produces out of a factory in Dover, Delaware.
As the Times reporter points out, even if Schumer’s influence caused this spike in Tampax’s sales, that doesn’t account for the current shortages buyers are facing across brands. Furthermore, it’s difficult to believe that such a significant number of tampon users were influenced to purchase Tampax because Amy Schumer told them to. One Twitter user responded, “I’d put money on no one being able to identify a single individual who sincerely bought tampons when they otherwise wouldn’t have solely bc Amy Schumer shilled them.”
Let’s take a look at some of the ads in question:
This businesswoman went from not realizing that tampons come in different sizes to thoroughly understanding her own flow pattern in one convo with Schumer! What about these deeply unsettling man-on-the-street interviews? Sold yet?
Of course, P&G also admitted that the company is facing shortages of its own when it comes to sourcing the raw materials needed to make their period-care products. Cotton, plastic, and paper pulp, which are used to make tampons, have been in high demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe just say that.
