Reports that a popular brand of athletic shoe had been manufactured by workers deprived of basic labor rights seemed to have a negligible effect on consumers. When surveyed, few consumers said that they planned to change their brand preferences in spite of the damning reports. However, a month after the reports had been broadcast, retail sales of the brand of athletic shoe had dropped sharply.

Which of the following, if true, best explains the apparent contradiction described in the passage?

A. Consumer advocates did not believe that the majority of the company’s workers were deprived of their rights.
B. The reports did not mention any other footwear manufacturers, many of which have been accused of exploiting workers.
C. The report aired on both television and public radio.
D. So many reports about worker exploitation had been recently aired that consumers had become desensitized to such reports.
E. Many retailers removed the brand from their shelves in response to the report.