Withdrawing sponsorships at even the slightest wiff of problems is the safe way to go. After all you usually won't get in trouble for ending an agreement, that money can always be used to suck up to some other group. I don't think anyone would care to boycott a sponcer of the Habs for withdrawing their money... as long as they don't go to the Leafs.The sponsors who are threatening to pull their sponsorships tell us that. They have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to max out profits, so they follow the money. They know that by tacitly approving the Mailloux pick it would cost them more money than by taking a stance. They always follow the money which represents the majority of their market.
You don't have to agree with them, but that's the reality.
Even if 1 percent were really upset and 90 percent were meh it's fine, I could see them bolting.
However it doesn't mean that kid deserves to be shunned. That is my point and my only point. Is shunning going to happen, apparently at least in the short run but it's an over reaction and they are being a bit inconsistent.