Petition demands Gillette Stadium be renamed after Robert Kraft charges

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Gillette has lent its name to the New England Patriots' stadium since 2002. But after Robert Kraft's alleged transgressions, a group of online petitioners believe it's time for a change.

A petition launched recently on Care2.com is calling for the shaving supply company to stop sponsoring Gillette Stadium after Kraft was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution in late February.

The petition, which had more than 13,800 signatures as of Wednesday morning, calls for Gillette and its parent company, Proctor & Gamble, to cut ties with the Patriots and "remove its name" from the stadium.

As the petition points out, Gillette recently changed its tagline to "The Best Men Can Be" in an ad campaign aimed at eliminating toxic masculinity in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

But Kraft, who police say was caught on camera exchanging money for sexual acts at the Orchids of Asia day spa in Jupiter, Fla., went against what Gillette stands for in his alleged actions, the petitioners argue.

"Robert Kraft believed his power would protect him from being held accountable for exploiting vulnerable women forced into sex slavery," the petition reads. "This is exactly the kind of behavior Gillette said it will stand against."

In the view of the petitioners, Kraft simply soliciting prostitution wouldn't have been worthy of action, but the Patriots owner should have been aware the women at the spa "clearly victims of human trafficking" and refrained from participating in their exploitation.

Kraft has pleaded not guilty to both charges and has an arraignment set for March 27.

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