Trivia question: In the summer of 2020, which social media platform was being boycotted, and why? The answer is Facebook, and the reason given was to pressure Mark Zuckerberg and the company to do more about hate speech on the social media platform. A coalition of groups under the banner “Stop Hate for Profit” called for a month-long ad boycott.
As we reported at the time, CNN did a sort of name-and-shame segment, reporting on major companies that hadn’t joined the ad boycott:
These are the big brands that haven't pulled ads from Facebook yet https://t.co/Nh9BQwX0nO
— CNN (@CNN) July 1, 2020
We’re seeing something similar Wednesday from Melissa Repko and Lauren Feiner, who have decided to name some major companies that have kept “largely silent” amid the outrage sparked by the leaking of a draft document suggesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade was imminent.
The game has changed: executives saw what we did to Disney and have changed their risk calculations. The pushback against woke capital is starting to deliver results. pic.twitter.com/UtI8nZs2jH
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 4, 2022
In other words, there was no story there, so the reporters tried to start one: “Dozens of companies, including Walmart, American Airlines and Disney, have yet to issue statements or respond to CNBC requests for comment.” So CNBC is asking companies to comment on a leaked decision draft and keeping track of which issue statements to address the “outrage”?
The way to fight back against woke corporations isn't to appeal to fuzzy abstractions; it's to change incentives and put a price on transgressing the values of the common citizen. Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a masterclass on this strategy with Disney and the Fortune 100 is listening.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 4, 2022
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Conservatives can easily change minds in the C-Suite: we need to exert enough pressure to give executives permission to tell internal stakeholders "we can't risk the reputational and political damage to do X woke policy." They aren't ideologues; we need to give them a way out.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 4, 2022
In the coming weeks, some companies will issue statements on Roe v. Wade. But they will be much more cautious than before and many companies will avoid the issue altogether. The fight isn't won, but we're making progress. Keep applying pressure.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 4, 2022
It’s those out-of-whack Republicans declaring war on Mickey Mouse.
I’d like to think this but the test is if the ruling is real.
— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) May 4, 2022
Certainly possible for it to change then, but I'm optimistic. Six months ago, the companies would have already been howling at this stage.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 4, 2022
As far as I know walmart and disney are not constitutional law experts nor have they been voted into office. I'd ignore any company that spoke out about it wether pro or con…I do not care what they have to say about anything.
— KentuckySnowBeast (@KentuckySnow) May 4, 2022
I agree, and that should be a common-sense position. I'm an outspoken conservative but I do not ask for any corporation to issue statements that align with my values and beliefs. They should realize all their customers will have different opinions and just stay out of it.
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) May 4, 2022
That, or they don’t want to alienate consumers by speaking out on the most divisive issue of the past half-century
— 🇺🇦 Steven Walk (@realStevenWalk) May 4, 2022
That didn’t stop them all from getting into bed with Black Lives Matter and donating millions so that Patrice Cullors could buy mansions in white neighborhoods.
At least they are starting to learn. It should be a no-brainer that a company can reach a MUCH broader market if they stay OUT of politics. It's pretty simple… focus on providing the best product/service that you can. I'm no economist tho so….
— Chahlee (busy/working) (@uberinterestin) May 4, 2022
They found out the blue haired 'journalists' and baristas on minimum wage don't have a whole lot of spending power
— blankety blank (@TomSnrub) May 4, 2022
There's an even more important point lost on politicians and corporations alike, which is that the people spending money aren't the screaming banshees going nuts at antifa rallies and BLM riots, it's the everyday parents.
That's a lesson woke capital needs to learn the hard way.— Rising serpent 🇺🇸 (@rising_serpent) May 4, 2022
Conservatives with a spine – I can get used to this!
— Deplorable Dylan (@dm03rieg) May 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/WillieVanderbr1/status/1521951651703177217
Any bets on whether the NBA will threaten to pull out of 15-30+ states?
— 𝙴𝚍𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙺. 𝙿𝚢𝚛𝚘𝚜 (@EdKPyros) May 4, 2022
Yet the attempt by the press/left (same thing) to goad these companies into taking their stand has not changed.
— Kid Charlemagne (@KidCharlemagn16) May 4, 2022
Yep.
I believe part of it was a bunch of woke left leaning PR firms were advising their clients to go woke.
I worked at one of the big 3 PR firms in the US and they pushed a woke agenda, even hiding data from clients that was showing backlash.
— Garrison (@Garrison2525) May 4, 2022
People are noting that Levi-Strauss has been a leader in getting involved:
https://twitter.com/davidgura/status/1521846524786917376
Let’s see how that works out for them.
Related:
CNN lists some of the big brands that haven’t committed to boycotting Facebook … yet https://t.co/UP8VQgr7LD
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 1, 2020
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