How brands and agencies responded to racial injustice in the first month following George Floyd's death

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5:00 PM EDT
Agencies join the Facebook boycott
The number of brands joining in on the #StopHateForProfit boycott continues to rise, and now a few agencies have announced they too will be going dark on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July.
David&Goliath wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday, “Profiting from hate speech, racism, and misleading information is wrong. That’s why we’re going dark on Facebook and Instagram for the month of July in solidarity with the #StopHateForProfit boycott. We encourage our clients and our team members to join us in taking a stand. You can demand change by signing the petition linked in our bio.”
Last week, Goodby Silverstein & Partners issued a similar statement in a Twitter post, saying “We are taking this action to protest the platform’s irresponsible propagation of hate speech, racism, and misleading voter information. We encourage clients and our own people to join us.”
David&Goliath and Goodby Silverstein & Partners are both creative agencies so they don’t handle the media buys for their clients. A Goodby Silverstein & Partners spokesperson further clarified to Ad Age that the agency’s position “is only about GS&P as an agency.” When asked if the agency was giving any guidance at all on the boycott to clients—which include BMW, Pepsi, PayPal and Adobe—the spokesperson declined comment. David&Goliath works with clients like Jack in the Box, Kia and Universal Studios. It is also unclear if the agency has been providing guidance to clients.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Dentsu Aegis Network’s media agency 360i encouraged clients in an email obtained by the publication to support the July boycott. A 360i spokesperson declined comment but people close to the matter say one of the agency’s clients leaked the email to the Wall Street Journal, and the shop had no plans of otherwise making its positioning on the boycott public.
Most agencies say they are giving guidance to clients on the boycott but declined to go into detail, explaining that they are handling the situation on a case-by-case basis. One person close to the matter at IPG media agency Mediahub says the agency is “working with clients on an individual basis. In general, our view is that a brand’s stance on this issue should be guided by, and be consistent with, their overall brand values,” the person says.
4:30 PM EDT
Brands put $1.6 million into racial justice TV ads
Brands have spent a total of $1.6 million on racial justice TV advertising in recent weeks, according to data and tech firm Numerator.
In all, 21 brands ran racial justice ads during the 30 days ended June 23, according to Numerator, a threefold increase from the number of brands that did so throughout all of 2018 and 2019 combined. Those 30 days saw 1,286 occurrences of such ads, more than double the 500 for those two years. 
Google’s YouTube was the biggest overall spender, putting $395,000 behind its racial-justice ads. Procter & Gamble Co. came in second with nearly $375,000 behind its corporate-branded ads. Then NASCAR with $312,000 in spending behind a racial justice ad that ran 46 times during the day of its Dixie Vodka 400 race. Unilever put $219,000 behind TV ads for its Dove and SheaMoisture brands.
Numerator is launching a new “Social Equality and Awareness Flag” to track socially responsible ad messages as they happen, including gender equality, racial equality, socio-economic equality and financial equality topics under that heading
9:30 AM EDT
Netflix shifts $100 million to Black-owned banks 
Netflix is shifting up to $100 million to lenders that serve the Black community in an effort to support minority lenders, Bloomberg reports . Initially, Netflix will move $25 million into the Black Economic Development initiative, a new fund that will invest in Black-owned financial institutions serving low-income communities. Another $10 million will go to the Hope Credit Union. It also pledged to allot 2 percent of its cash on hand to financial organizations that support the Black community.
9:30 AM EDT
iHeartMedia debuts Black Information Network 
iHeartMedia launched a new 24-7 national news services dedicated to providing national news with a Black voice and perspective. Led by Tony Coles, who will serve as president, BIN is an independent business unit financed by iHeartMedia. Founding partners include Bank of America, CVS Health, Geico, Lowe’s, McDonald’s USA, Sony, 23andMe and Verizon. These brands will assist in the financing of BIN and “give it the support it needs without the daily pressure of ratings.” BIN is distributed through the iHeartRadio app and across broadcast radio stations in markets including Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Seattle, among others. It will also serve as the news service for iHeartMedia’s hip hop, R&B and gospel stations. 
June 29, 2020
7:00 AM EDT
Restaurant Brands admits ‘insufficient racial diversity,’ sets hiring goal 
Restaurant Brands International is committing to having at least half of all final-round candidates for jobs at its four corporate offices “be from groups that are demonstrably diverse, including race,” CEO Jose Cil said in a letter. Cil admits in the letter that the company, which owns Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons, has “insufficient racial diversity” and says the company is going to change that.
June 28, 2020
8:03 PM EDT
Sprite says the American Dream 'forgot' Black America in new ad
In an ad debuting during Sunday’s BET Awards, Sprite makes a blunt assessment of the American Dream: “It wasn’t made for everybody. It forgot about one very important detail: Black America.”
The spot, from  Wieden+Kennedy  New York, mingles footage from Black Lives Matter marches with shots of Atlanta, the hometown of Sprite owner Coca-Cola Co. Sprite released the ad after recently committing $500,000 to the Black Lives Matter Global Network.
7:52 PM EDT
Doritos is giving ad space to Black artists in partnership with Black Lives Matter
Doritos is giving Black artists major outdoor ad space to promote their messages as part of a new investment that includes a $150,000 donation to Black Lives Matter.
Doritos says its investment in the #AmplifyBlackVoices effort includes giving Black artists the chance to take over $650,000 worth of its outdoor advertising inventory.
The Frito-Lay chip brand is also aired a 30-second spot, “Do You Hear Us Now?” during Sunday night’s BET Awards. The spot was created by BET and features Black artists and footage from Black Lives Matter marches.
Read more here . 
3:00 PM EDT
McDonald’s gave most of its BET Awards media buy to Black activists and business owners
McDonald’s devoted most of its media buy for Sunday night’s BET Awards to amplify the voices of Black activists, giving 13 people air time to tell their stories. It is the first time it has donated its air space in such a manner. Spots feature Ibram X. Kendi, Imani Ellis, Bubba Wallace, and others.
McDonald’s says it worked with  Wieden+Kennedy New York  to identify the people showcased in the spots, and with  OMD  and Burrell Communications Group on the media buy.
McDonald’s is also airing its own spot, “Dreams,” which comes from  Burrell Communications Group . That spot features an arrangement of the Nina Simone song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" and notes that McDonald’s supports the Boys & Girls Club of America.
June 26, 2020
6:44 PM EDT
Coke pauses all social spend for at least 30 days, including on YouTube, to fight racism
Coca-Cola Co. will pause spending on all social media platforms, including Google-owned YouTube, for at least 30 days. The decision—which the beverage giant says is aimed at fighting racism—takes a broader approach than most brands, which have mostly directed their ad freezes at Facebook and Instagram.
“There is no place for racism in the world and there is no place for racism on social media. The Coca-Cola Company will pause paid advertising on all social media platforms globally for at least 30 days,” CEO and Chairman James Quincey said in a statement. “We will take this time to reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed. We also expect greater accountability and transparency from our social media partners.”
Read more here .
5:46 PM EDT
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg details new tools that fight hate, but NAACP says it's not enough to end boycott
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg  posted a message  on Friday outlining plans to tackle disinformation and label harmful content—the kind that has gone unchecked in the past, like posts from President Donald Trump. However, the policy update was immediately slapped down by organizers of an advertising freeze against the company. They said the social network did not meet their demands, which means a brand boycott is still in the works for July.  
In his post, Zuckerberg reaffirmed many of the positions the company has taken in the past that suggest it will continue to err on the side of allowing the widest possible expression views on the service.  
The social network has been under  intense pressure from activists and civil rights groups  that have mounted a boycott campaign because of concerns over the spread of disinformation and hate speech. Zuckerberg addressed some of the problems, but the NAACP, which is helping organize the pressure campaign, said he did not go far enough, in a statement sent to Ad Age. 
"Facebook is supporting hate, not 'free speech'"  Derrick Johnson, NAACP president, said in the statement. "I am incredibly concerned with Zuckerberg's response today. Facebook's inactions are costing us lives."  
The "Stop the Hate for Profit" movement has attracted support from brands like  Honda ,  Unilever ,  Verizon  and  The North Face . Verizon declined comment on Zuckerberg's announcement, while several other brands that have paused their spend in July did not immediately provide comment.
7:01 PM EDT
Twitter turned Black Lives Matter Tweets into billboards around the country 
Since Juneteenth, you may have encountered Black Lives Matter tweets way beyond your Twitter feed. The social media platform has been giving some of its BLM messages more prominence in major cities around the world by featuring them in billboards and massive outdoor displays.
Real Tweets from Black users around the world have been magnified on out-of-home signs in U.S. cities where major protests have occurred: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Louisville, Minneapolis, New York, Oakland and Philadelphia.
The include messages from writer Ashley Simpo, Bernice King, CEO of The King Center and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, writer and marketer Frederick T. Joseph and many more. 
Read more here .
So.... there’s a billboard in Oakland with my face and words on it and your girl is choked up.
Gigantic thanks to the incredible God-is Rivera ( @grivi )and the team at @twitter for the amazing work they do amplifying Black voices.
Look Gram, I’m on a billboard!????????‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/6irivnjI4C
— Black Ashley (@ashleysimpo) June 22, 2020
5:31 PM EDT
Disney remakes Splash Mountain with ‘Princess and the Frog’ theme
Walt Disney Co. is dropping all references to “Song of the South,” the controversial 1946 film, from its two Splash Mountain rides in California and Florida, reports Bloomberg . 
The rides will be rethemed with elements from “The Princess and the Frog,” the 2009 animated musical that was Disney’s first to feature an African-American heroine. The new version will feature the character Princess Tiana, whom the company describes as a “modern, courageous, and empowered woman,” as she prepares for a Mardi Gras performance in Louisiana.“Song of the South,” which features the Black character Uncle Remus cheerfully singing songs like “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” around a post-Civil War plantation, has been called out for its racial stereotypes. Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger has said the company won’t put the film on its Disney+ streaming service, even with a disclaimer.
Splash Mountain is a classic log-flume ride that takes guests through several forest scenes featuring singing rabbits, bears and birds. The humans from the film aren’t portrayed. The California ride opened in 1989.
There’s a third Splash Mountain, at Tokyo Disneyland. The company didn’t announce plans to change that, although Oriental Land Co., the owner of that park, is reviewing options, a Disney spokesperson said.Online petitions had been circulating both for and against rebranding the U.S. rides. One started on June 9 on Change.org and calling for a new theme has more than 21,000 signatures, but one started three days later aiming to retain the “Song of the South” elements has more than 31,000.
Disney said it began work on the new theme last year.
We're thrilled to share Splash Mountain at @Disneyland & @WaltDisneyWorld will be completely reimagined with a new story inspired by an all-time favorite @DisneyAnimation film, “The Princess and the Frog.” Learn about what Imagineers have in development: https://t.co/HyKfdDSH3j pic.twitter.com/DV6476KAVX
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 25, 2020
5:04 PM EDT
Brands support the Black community with their Pride campaigns
This year, Pride campaigns have evolved. The coronavirus pandemic has forced Pride parades and brand across the U.S. to go virtual, giving brands the potential of global reach. And with the death of George Floyd inspiring millions to take action against systemic racism, many brands have  revamped  their virtual Pride plans to support the Black LGBTQ+ community.
In the U.S., Pride has close ties to racial injustice. Black LGBTQ+ individuals were a large part of New York City’s Stonewall Inn protests of 1969, the start of Pride. Many believe that the uprising was initiated when police tried to shove Black lesbian Stormé Delarverie into a police car.
Brands like Netflix, Microsoft, SKYY Vodka and others are drumming up support and donations for Black rights organizations as part of their Pride campaigns. 
1:52 PM EDT
Dixie Chicks changes its name and releases a song about Black Lives Matter
Country group The Dixie Chicks is now going by the name The Chicks. Dropping the word “dixie” — which describes Southern U.S. states, especially those that formed the Confederacy — isn’t the group’s only new way of recognizing the push for social justice. The Chicks released a video for a new song, “March March,” that includes footage such as Black Lives Matter protests, gay pride marches, gun control activists including Emma Gonzalez, youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, and many others, and the names of Black people who have been killed such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Emmett Till. The video ends with a scrolling list of 16 organizations including Headcount and Black Lives Matter.
The Dixie Chicks’ rebranding follows that of country group Lady Antebellum, which shortened its name to Lady A earlier this month. 
1:42 PM EDT
YouTube starts off Brandcast with message of support for Black Lives Matter
YouTube sent advertisers a personalized presentation of its online-only Brandcast on Thursday, and it opened the show with a message from CEO Susan Wojcicki in support of Black Lives Matter before launching its pitch to advertisers about the future of the service. 
“At YouTube, we believe Black Lives Matter,” Wojcicki said in the video. “We have always been a platform that celebrates a diverse set of voices, but we've recognized we need to do more in particular with the Black community.” 
Platforms like YouTube have had to address criticisms about how they elevate hateful content and how the companies handle racial justice issues internally. Just this week, Google  workers petitioned the company  to stop contracting with law enforcement organizations. 
YouTube used Brandcast as a moment to reflect on part of its corporate responsibility to elevate more Black voices. YouTube executives re-stated how YouTube will spend $100 million to support Black creators. 
2:55 PM EDT
Microsoft commits more than $750 million to diversifying its workforce, suppliers and partners
On Tuesday night, Microsoft shared steps it plans on taking to increase the diversity of its employees via social media and a blog post published to its website.
In an email previously shared with employees, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated the company plans on investing $150 million in diversity and inclusion, and will double the number of Black individuals in managerial roles by 2025, among other initiatives.
Currently, Microsoft, outside of other companies it owns, has an employee base made up of only 4.5 percent Black employees, with only 2.7 percent holding executive titles, 2.5 percent at the director level and 2.7 percent at the manager level. The majority of Microsoft employees (53.2 percent) are white, according to Microsoft’s 2019 diversity and inclusion report included in the blog post.
With its employee investment, Microsoft will require training beginning in 2021 on “allyship, covering and privilege in the workplace,” with new content to “understand the experience of the Black and African American community.” Microsoft will also expand on talent development programs and evaluate managers’ progress in diversity and inclusion.
Microsoft also pledges to double the number of Black-owned suppliers it uses over the next three years and plans to spend $500 million on new suppliers. It also plans on doubling the percentage of transaction volumes with Black-owned banks, and create a $100 million program in collaboration with the FDIC to target Minority Owned Depository Institutions.
In addition, Microsoft plans on growing the number of Black-owned businesses it partners with by 20 percent over the next three years, and will provide $73 million to fund new and existing partners for their needs.
In communities, Microsoft will expand on its justice reform efforts, and focus on growing digital skills in Black and people-of-color communities by giving $5 million in grants to nonprofits and will establish a $50 million investment fund supporting Black-owned small businesses.
“Change begins by looking inward. We expect this change in ourselves. Employees expect this change from their leaders. Our customers and partners expect this change from Microsoft. And the world demands this change,” wrote Nadella in the blog.
We're taking additional steps to address racial injustice. Informed by leaders in the Black and African American community at Microsoft, these are steps we feel are meaningful, holistic, and sustainable.
2:32 PM EDT
Netflix honors lost lives of Black trans women ahead of virtual Pride event
Many brands are highlighting Black voices during Pride month and Netflix is one of them. On Tuesday night, Netflix tweeted a list of the Black trans women who have been killed in the U.S. since 2019. The tweet has already been retweeted more than 900 times and has received more than 3,000 likes. The streaming platform followed up the tweet by highlighting five trans-led organizations with the note: “As you reflect, let’s also Do.”
In loving memory of the black trans women and femmes killed in the US since 2019. #NeverKnewLove #Pose pic.twitter.com/uZU8u7rEMY
— Netflix (@netflix) June 24, 2020
To celebrate Pride month, Netflix is also hosting a “ Netflix Pride ” virtual event presented by The Most, the platform’s dedicated social channels which promote content for the LGBTQ+ community. The event will be streamed on Netflix’s YouTube, The Most’s IGTV and TikTok on June 30 at 4 p.m. Pacific, and will feature famous Black LGBTQ+ champions like actress and activist Laverne Cox (star of Netflix’s new “Disclosure” documentary about the history of trans images in film and TV), actor Tituss Burgess and singer Chaka Khan. 
During the event, Netflix will raise awareness for the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, an organization that defends the rights of Black transgender people, named after Black drag queen Marsha P. Johnson, a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising, as well as LGBTQ+ organizations Outright Action International and the Trans Justice Funding Project.
Chaka Khan, Laverne Cox, Peppermint — oh my! Proud to announce the Netflix Pride Special presented by @most ! Benefiting OutRight, The Marsha P Johnson Institute, and the Trans Justice Funding Project. June 30, 4pm, on Netflix YouTube. pic.twitter.com/IBTIRfoc7j
— The Most (@Most) June 23, 2020
2:30 PM EDT
Rosapark founders say they are reconsidering the Paris agency's name in light of recent backlash
The three founders of the Havas-owned French agency  Rosapark —Gilles Fichteberg, Jean-François Sacco and Jean-Patrick Chiquiar, who are all white men—say they are reconsidering their agency's name.
The decision comes after Nathan Young, president of nonprofit  600 & Rising  and group strategy director at Minneapolis agency  Periscope , called the agency out on Twitter for using the name of the iconic Civil Rights activist, Rosa Parks, who famously refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a white man. Young wrote, “Advertising's race problem in one image.”
“We are aware of the various comments on social media related to the name Rosapark and we would like to assure you we are taking them very seriously,” Fichteberg, Sacco and Chiquiar said in a collective statement to Ad Age. “We are sincerely sorry if the name of our agency, which we chose eight years ago, has caused any offense. In the current climate and in light of recent world events, we fully understand why.”
— Nathan Young (@notnathan) June 23, 2020
2:27 PM EDT
In his Lions Live keynote, P&G CMO Marc Pritchard calls for better progress on diversity
In a wide-ranging talk at the Cannes Lions Live virtual event on Wednesday, Procter & Gamble’s Chief Marketing Officer Marc Pritchard set goals for growing diversity within P&G, its agencies, media and production crews. 
Pritchard said P&G has set a goal of 40 percent multicultural representation within the company and is pushing for similar moves by agency teams and production crews, where he said, “we’re way short” but making progress.
He also noted P&G is restructuring buying systems to increase investment in Black-owned or operated media, agencies and other marketing suppliers. And he said P&G has launched a comprehensive review of all brand marketing to ensure it “accurately and respectfully portrays Black people—and all people,” using the Association of National Advertisers’ Cultural Impact Insights Measure to “hold ourselves accountable.”
1:00 PM EDT
Vice calls on brands to rethink keyword blocklists associated with racism
Vice is calling on marketers and agencies to once again reassess keyword blocklists as new words have been added to advertisers’ do-not-buy lists amid the protests against racial injustice.
During its NewFront presentation on Wednesday, the company said brand marketers need to call upon their agencies to review and question the words that make up their blocklists. Over the past few weeks, the company notes that those words now include “George Floyd,” “protest,” and “Minneapolis.” And one agency that represents a large entertainment company sent a blocklist that even included "Black Lives Matter" and "Black people" the same week the corporation put out a statement of support for Black Lives Matter, said Marsha Cooke, senior VP, content and community strategy, Vice. 
12:45 PM EDT
Hennessy’s ‘Unfinished Business’ fund backs business owners of color
Hennessy today released a video promoting its “Unfinished Business” program that pledges $3 million in support for businesses owned by Black, Latinx and Asian American people who have beenhard hit by the pandemic. The video, from Droga5 and  New York City-based filmmaker Haley Anderson , spotlights seven small-business owners talking about their challenges.
6:13 AM EDT
Walmart to stop displaying the Confederate-themed Mississippi flag
Walmart said it will stop displaying the Confederate-themed Mississippi flag while the state debates whether to change the design, reports  Time. “We believe it’s the right thing to do, and is consistent with Walmart’s position to not sell merchandise with the Confederate flag from stores and online sites, as part of our commitment to provide a welcoming and inclusive experience for all of our customers in the communities we serve,” a company spokesperson said.
June 23, 2020
2:57 PM EDT
Outfront launches nationwide ‘Black Heart’ campaign  
Out-of-home media company Outfront has a new nationwide campaign that stands as a statement of solidarity with the Black community.
The campaign was created by the company’s in-house creative team Outfront Studios. Tim Wasicki, northeast creative director at Outfront Studios, came up with the initial image: A singular black heart, highlighted in gray, set against a black background. Wasicki was inspired by the #BlackoutTuesday movement on social media where people posted black squares.
Credit:
Outfront Studios
“I felt there was something more that I needed to convey and create, especially as a man of color,” says Wasicki in a statement. Wasicki brought together 15 Outfront Studios colleagues from across the country to create different designs based off the initial heart. “I wanted to know what this difficult moment in time meant to others,” he says.
The final designs show a series of muted gray hearts on black backgrounds. Each convey additional feelings of support towards the Black Lives Matter movement. “The color shifted from black on black, to a muted grey, representing our continued solidarity, but also representing the growth within our perception of ‘color,’” says Wasicki. One heart reads “unity,” another reads “truth.” “Each is powerful in its own right, but the series captures the sentiment of furthering the conversation,” he says. The additional designs were also created by Nicole Mapp, Kenneth Chen, Frankie Ferguson, Drew Bolen, Kat Salimi, Rene Delgado, Sarah Barcelos, Ian Mattingly, Eddy Herty, Sandra Zivadinovic, Nia Bailey and Alexis Caban.
The designs are running on digital out-of-home billboards and signs across the country.
Credit:
Outfront Studios
Outfront is also providing assets reading “Black businesses matter” to African American-run small businesses for billboards in strategic locations.
 
2:57 PM EDT
Snapchat promotes diversity in shows and news at its first NewFront
Snapchat emphasized its young, progressive audience as a point of pride in its inaugural  online NewFront presentation  on Tuesday. The messaging app showed off a roster of shows and news coverage that it believes speak to the social awakening that is happening across the country.
Kenny Mitchell, Snapchat’s chief marketing officer, pointed to Snapchat Shows like “While Black,” which was produced last year but was recently re-released on the service. It is a 10-part documentary series, which is still timely, dealing with issues like policing in Black communities. Black creators were featured prominently, including stars like Will Smith, who also has a Snapchat Show.
Snapchat talked about its generation of 13- to 24-year-olds as agents of change, looking for action. “We’ll do everything we can to ensure this generation is informed and their voices get heard,” Mitchell said.
1:02 PM EDT
Condé Nast commits to diversity in NewFronts pitch
Condé Nast, under fire in recent weeks for fostering an internal culture of racism, has committed to providing a platform for new voices, diverse content and inclusive programming that is more representative of multicultural audiences and communities.
Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch addressed the NewFronts audience live on Tuesday to discuss the backlash the company has received and how it is prioritizing diversity and inclusion. "It shouldn't take the horrendous murder of George Floyd for us to wake up as a society," he said. 
Lynch says 30 percent of Condé Nast's workforce include people of color and the company is assembling a new external anti-racism advisory council to work alongside its editorial team. 
Earlier this month, Matt Duckor, who had served as head of lifestyle video programming, left the company after staffers claimed Condé Nast did not feature people of color in videos or did not pay them for appearances. Drucker’s old tweets, which contained racist and homophobic content, were resurfaced. Bon Appetit’s Adam Rapoport also left the company following allegations of racial discrimination.
6:41 PM EDT
Research firm rates McDonald’s BLM ad ‘edgy,’ puts P&G in ‘danger zone’
Black Lives Matter ads are widely seen both as exploitative and empowering, but among recent efforts, McDonald’s “One of Us” gets high scores from people on both fronts, while Procter & Gamble Co.’s “The Choice” is seen as exploitative without being very empowering, according to Ace Metrix .
The McDonald’s ad from Wieden & Kennedy, New York, fell into what the research firm classifies as “Edgy” territory – roughly equal parts empowering and exploitative. P&G’s from WPP’s Grey and Saturday Morning co-founder Keith Cartwright’s new agency Cartwright, scored the lowest of eight BLM ads tested on being empowering, but just about as exploitative. 
McDonald’s listed names of recent Black victims of police violence (including George Floyd), said how the company was affected by recent events, and pledged donations to related causes. P&G’s ad called out white viewers, saying it’s not enough to not be racist, but that they also need to take positive action including donating, protesting and voting.
People saw both as exploitative in using recent controversy and unrest as a starting point for brand messages, according to Ace Metrix. But P&G’s was among two that the firm says land in the “Danger Zone” where the messaging’s “exploitative” risk outweighs the reward.
Verbatim responses gave McDonald’s high marks for taking a stand, even among one respondent who doesn’t like the brand much. Verbatims even from some BLM supporters saw P&G’s ad as divisive, with others reacting negatively to P&G trying to force people to take political stands and saying nothing about what the company itself is doing. 
5:41 PM EDT
Nestlé pulls Beso de Negra candy as it reviews portfolio for racism
Nestlé SA will stop selling products under the Beso de Negra brand as the world’s largest food company goes through its 25,000 products to eliminate marketing that contains racial stereotypes.
Nestlé is reviewing all the products made by its more than 2,000 brands and will rename and redesign that one, a spokeswoman told Bloomberg in a response to emailed questions. Colombian confectionery brand name Beso de Negra translates as kiss from a Black woman.
Read more here . 
5:15 PM EDT
NASCAR says ‘We are one family’ after drivers push Bubba Wallace’s racecar to front of the field
Today’s race at Talladega Superspeedway saw drivers support NASCAR’s only Black full-time driver, Bubba Wallace, by pushing his racecar (No.43) to the front of the field. The act of solidary occurred one day after a noose was found in Wallace’s garage stall.
 NASCAR has been sharing the support around Wallace during the race. NASCAR posted a video showing the drivers pushing his car to the front of the lineup and Wallace’s tears that followed with the message: “We are one family. One NASCAR.” Another NASCAR tweet showed the line of drivers and crew members and simply read “Together” with the hashtag #IStandWithBubba. NASCAR also shared an image of “#IStandWithBubba” painted on the grass by workers before the race began as well as a video of Wallace’s team giving him a prep talk by saying: “Let’s go shut these haters up.”
We are one family.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 22, 2020
3:31 PM EDT
Equal Justice Initiative's haunting film looks back at the history of lynchings and massacres endured by Black people in the U.S.
A new film for the Equal Justice Initiative reflects on the massacres Black people have faced since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
Hauntingly beautiful illustrations guide viewers through history, showing how President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 did nothing to stop the hate and brutality Black Americans have had to face and continue to face.
The film promotes EJI’s new report,  Reconstruction in America , which examines the 12 years following the Civil War and documents 2,000 more lynchings of Black people in America than were previously recorded. The report says that the new numbers bring the count to 6,500 lynchings, with thousands more that may never be known.
6:11 AM EDT
Fortnite removes police cars 
Fortnite has removed police cars from its game,  reports  the Wall Street Journal, apparently following the death of George Floyd. Fortnite owner Epic Games hasn’t yet commented on the move, but “their sudden omission has drawn attention on social media, where people have debated whether it was a politically motivated decision,” says the Journal.
6:01 AM EDT
Eskimo Pie drops 'derogatory' name
Dreyer’s Eskimo Pie is the latest brand to announce a name change in the wake of the racial injustice protests and the death of George Floyd. According to the  Wall Street Journal , the 100-year-old ice cream brand is rethinking its branding, which includes a logo of a person wearing a fur-trimmed parka, because it realizes the Eskimo name is “derogatory.” 
“We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory,” Elizabell Marquez, head of marketing for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, said in a statement.
Eskimo Pie joins the likes of  Aunt Jemima’s ,  Uncle Ben’s  and others in changing its branding in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. In Asia, meanwhile, Colgate-Palmolive Co. is  “reviewing” its branding  of Darlie toothpaste in Asia, 30 years after the company took the half-step of changing the name from “Darkie” but left “Black Person Toothpaste” written in Chinese on packaging.
June 19, 2020
5:08 PM EDT
Gap Inc. adorns brand sites with diversity pledges, and Levi’s reveals diversity makeup for first time
Competitors Gap Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co. are the latest retailers to promise more diversity at corporate levels.
Gap Inc, parent of Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Intermix, Athleta and recently shuttered Hill City, has topped the homepages of its brands’ websites with pledges to double Black and Latinx representation. Meanwhile, Levi Strauss & Co., parent company of Levi’s and Dockers, has published the diversity makeup of its company for the first time in its 167-year history and promises to do better. At the corporate level, both Gap and Levi's have less than 5 percent Black representation.
Read more here . 
3:45 PM EDT
Snapchat says sorry for Juneteenth Lens that required a smile to break the chains of slavery
Snapchat apologized on Friday for an ill-considered Juneteenth celebration that was criticized online for setting the wrong tone. 
On Friday, Snapchat users were greeted with a new filter in honor of Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S. The Snapchat filter encouraged users to break the chains of slavery, but to activate the animation people were prompted to smile.  
Augmented reality filters are animated Lenses that interact with people in their selfies. The filters can respond to people's movements, and in this case, when a person smiled, virtual chains would break. The need to smile for the filter irked some users, and Snapchat pulled it after receiving criticism.
Snapchat said the filter did not go through as rigorous of a review process as it should have. Some online commenters wondered if Snapchat had enough Black leaders in the room, who might have flagged the filter earlier. Snapchat said that a diverse group of employees were represented in the creative process. 
"We deeply apologize to the members of the Snapchat community who found this Lens offensive," a Snapchat spokesman said in an e-mail statement. "A diverse group of Snap team members were involved in developing the concept, but a version of the Lens that went live for Snapchatters this morning had not been approved through our review process. We are investigating why this mistake occurred so that we can avoid it in the future.
This SnapChat #Juneteenth filter is...um...interesting.
Smile to break the chains? Okay then. pic.twitter.com/Wyob3kT3ew
— Mark S. Luckie (@marksluckie) June 19, 2020
12:53 PM EDT
Goodby Silverstein & Partners created a Juneteenth newspaper ad that doubles as a peaceful protest sign
Nonprofit Courageous Conversation Global Foundation has taken out a full-page ad in the Oklahoma Eagle, one of the oldest Black-owned publications in the U.S.—but it’s not just an ad. 
The page, which reads “Being Black is not a crime” in all-white type against a black background, is also meant to serve as a sign for those planning to peacefully protest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where President Trump is holding a rally, marking his return to the campaign trail after the pandemic had put it on hold. It's the latest in Goodby Silverstein & Partner’s work for CCGF.
5:26 PM EDT
Colgate reviews branding for its 'Black Person Toothpaste' in Asia
Colgate-Palmolive Co. is “reviewing” its branding of Darlie toothpaste in Asia, 30 years after the company took the half-step of changing the name from “Darkie” but left “Black Person Toothpaste” written in Chinese on packaging.
People in the U.S. may know little about it, but Darlie is the leading toothpaste brand in China and much of East Asia.
"Darlie is a Chinese brand owned by Colgate and our Joint Venture Partner, Hawley & Hazel. For more than 35 years, we have been working together to evolve the brand, including substantial changes to the name, logo and packaging," said the company. "We are currently working with our partner to review and further evolve all aspects of the brand, including the brand name."
5:10 PM EDT
A Juneteenth pledge asks agencies to commit to 13 percent Black leadership by 2023
The “IN FOR 13%” initiative launched by Three’s A Crowd, an L.A.-based Black creative collective, is calling on advertising industry leadership to “publicly and actionably” eliminate racist hiring practices. The initiative is meant to be a resource for agencies attempting to see real change in recruitment and professional growth of Black people in the industry.
The initiative’s goal: to ensure that advertising industry leadership proportionately reflects the U.S. Black population as a whole by 2023. “While Black people comprise 13 percent of the U.S. population, data shows that only 8.1 percent of people working in advertising are Black,” the group said in a statement.
The initiative lays out three phases to achieve more equity in advertising. Self Identification and Accountability: Participating agencies will be asked to readily show their leadership teams. Develop Actionable Toolkits: Agencies will be given clear initiatives and customized toolkits to tackle racial biases specific to them. Track Agency Progress: IN FOR 13% will establish a hub to track the performance of participating agencies.
“Let everyone see that the people running advertising agencies do not reflect the world we live in,” says Reonna Johnson, cofounder of Three’s A Crowd. “For true change to occur, advertising agency leadership must be the catalyst.”
4:05 PM EDT
The Martin Agency, Wieden+Kennedy are latest to release diversity makeup
Wieden+Kennedy and The Martin Agency are the latest shops to release the diversity makeup of their employee bases, as part of their participation in the "Commit to Change" campaign that nonprofit 600 & Rising announced today. The Martin Agency, part of Interpublic Group of Cos. (the first holding company to release its diversity makeup), posted a chart on Instagram that shows 9.7 percent of all its employees are Black or African American; 4.4 percent of all employees are Hispanic or Latinx; 4.4 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander; 2.5 percent are of two or more races; and 78.7 percent are white.
Within its executive committee, The Martin Agency reports 11.1 percent are Black or African American; 11.1 percent are Hispanic or Latinx; none are Asian or Pacific Islander; none are of two or more races; and 77.8 percent are white. The agency reports 4.9 percent of its officers are Black or African American; 4.9 percent are Hispanic or Latinx; 1.6 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander; none are of two or more races; and 88.6 percent are white.
Independent agency Wieden+Kennedy, which has offices in Portland and New York, reports that 1 percent of its creatives in Portland are American Indian or Alaskan Native and 1 percent of its creatives in New York are Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.
The agency also reveals that 5 percent of its Portland and New York teams are of two or more races; while 8 percent of its leadership in Portland and 5 percent of its leadership in New York are of two races or more.
Wieden+Kennedy also reports that 8 percent of its Portland office, 9 percent of its New York office, 1 percent of Portland leadership and 2 percent of Portland leadership are Asian. According to the agency, 7 percent of its Portland office, 9 percent of its New York office, 5 percent of Portland leadership and 5 percent of New York leadership are Latinx.
Wieden+Kennedy says 9 percent of its Portland office, 11 percent of its New York office, 2 percent of Portland leadership and 10 percent of New York leadership are Black. The agency reports 69 percent of its Portland office, 58 percent of its New York office, 84 percent of Portland leadership and 75 percent of New York leadership are white.
Wieden+Kennedy and The Martin Agency released their diversity makeups one day after Dentsu Aegis Network revealed its numbers in a leaked letter sent to staff.
According to Dentsu, 1.8 percent of its executives are Black or African American; 7.1 percent are Asian; 83.4 percent are white; 3.6 percent are Hispanic or Latinx; and 4.1 percent are of two or more races.
A post shared by Wieden+Kennedy New York (@wknyc) on
Jun 18, 2020 at 9:01am PDT
3:19 PM EDT
Facebook censors Trump ad over 'Nazi-era' imagery just as it announces $200 million to support Black voices
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, announced a series of new programs on Thursday to highlight the Black community, and at the same time the social network took a dramatic step toward accommodating civil rights groups by censoring an ad from President Trump. 
The social platform is giving $200 million to support Black businesses and Black creators and plans to launch a media hub called "Lift Black Voices" inside its app. On Thursday, Facebook also removed an ad from Trump's campaign because it featured "Nazi-era" imagery. Trump's ad called on supporters to fight "Antifa," a loosely affiliated protest group with a name that stems from "anti-fascist." 
This comes just one day after  Facebook heard from civil right groups , including the NAACP and Anti-Defamation League, which advocated for advertisers to join a boycott of the social network. Facebook has been criticized for how it handles offensive rhetoric, especially coming from Trump’s account.
2:02 PM EDT
Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny among the 30-plus agencies to join 600 & Rising's 'Commit to Change' campaign
600&Rising, the nonprofit established by hundreds of Black ad execs yesterday, today debuts its first campaign, "Commit to Change," with the backing of more than 30 agencies across the U.S. It’s an effort to normalize transparency on diversity data in the industry in the hopes of making it more diverse and equitable.
Among the “First Day” agencies are Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny, BarrettSF, Giant Spoon, Noble People, Preacher, Periscope, O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul, Observatory and Zambezi. All of them have committed to releasing their own diversity data that adheres to a standard established by 600 & Rising, based on recommendations from leading diversity, equity and inclusion experts. 
1:20 PM EDT
Unilever faces petitions to end skin-lightening cream brand in India
Unilever, however, sells a brand called Fair & Lovely in India and elsewhere in Asia that makes skin-lightening creams, which spawned social-media backlash and more than two dozen change.org petitions calling on the company either to discontinue the brand or change its name. The  most visible of those efforts  has amassed more than 10,000 signatures to date. Unilever declined or did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
12:53 PM EDT
Johnson & Johnson scraps Neutrogena Fine Fairness amid growing criticism of skin-lightening products
Johnson & Johnson will discontinue the Neutrogena Fine Fairness line in Asia and the Middle East amid growing criticism of skin-lightening products, including rival Unilever’s Fair & Lovely brand.
“Conversations over the past few weeks highlighted that the name of our Neutrogena Fine Fairness line may be perceived in an unintended way as it represents fairness as better than your own unique skin tone,” a J&J spokeswoman said in a statement. “Grounded in the belief that healthy skin is beautiful skin, we made the business decisions to no longer sell the Fine Fairness product line.”
10:35 AM EDT
FX schedules Juneteenth programming across networks
FX Networks is honoring Juneteenth (June 19), the day that marks the end of slavery in the U.S., by airing a special lineup of films and TV shows across FX, FXX and FXM that sheds light on the experience of Black Americans.
Beginning at 7 a.m. Eastern on Friday, 24-hour programming includes award-winning films “Hidden Figures,” “Selma” and “Get Out,” along with marathons of “Black-ish” and “Atlanta.”
10:20 AM EDT
English Premier League prints ‘Black Lives Matter’ on players’ jerseys
English Premier League soccer is showing support for the racial justice movement by replacing player names on the jerseys of all its 20 teams with the words “Black Lives Matter.” The statement will remain on the shirts for the next 12 games of the season, which restarted on Wednesday without fans, following a three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league is also respecting the players’ choice to take a knee on the field during or before games to protest police brutality and racism. 
"We, the Players, stand together with the singular objective of eradicating racial prejudice wherever it exists, to bring about a global society of inclusion, respect, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of their color or creed. This symbol is a sign of unity from all players, all staff, all clubs, all match officials and the Premier League," the players said in a statement released by the league.
The sleeves of the jerseys also feature a Black Lives Matter badge and a badge for the United Kingdoms’ National Health Service.
???? In recognition of NHS workers, an NHS badge will feature on player shirts for the remainder of the season
✊????✊????✊???? For the first 12 matches, player names on shirts will be replaced by Black Lives Matter. A sleeve patch will feature on shirts for the rest of the season pic.twitter.com/77k4Nqf8ba
— Premier League (@premierleague) June 17, 2020
7:10 AM EDT
Cream of Wheat follows Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben’s and Mrs. Butterworth’s in review of branding and packaging
Cream of Wheat became the fourth major food marketer to announce a review of its brand imagery on Wednesday, acknowledging concerns about the image of a Black chef that has appeared on its packaging for decades. 
“We understand there are concerns regarding the Chef image, and we are committed to evaluating our packaging and will proactively take steps to ensure that we and our brands do not inadvertently contribute to systemic racism. B&G Foods unequivocally stands against prejudice and injustice of any kind.”
Read the full story here .
Earlier on Wednesday, PepsiCo Inc. said it would do away with the Aunt Jemima image of a Black woman and its brand name that dates back to 1889. And Mars Inc. revealed it is “ evaluating all possibilities” for the Uncle Ben’s brand which has used an image of a Black chef and waiter since 1946. Then Conagra Brands Inc. said it had begun a brand and packaging review for Mrs. Butterworth's , a syrup brand that’s been around since 1961.
June 17, 2020
6:36 PM EDT
Civil rights groups issue a call to stop advertising on Facebook in July
Civil rights groups, including the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League and Sleeping Giants,  advocated that advertisers  stop buying ads from the company through the month of July. 
"We are asking all businesses to stand in solidarity with our most deeply held American values of freedom, equality and justice and not advertise on Facebook’s services in July,” the civil rights groups said in an ad that appeared in The Los Angeles Times. “Let’s send Facebook a powerful message: Your profits will never be worth promoting hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism and violence.” 
Read more here .
6:24 PM EDT
The Ad Council’s 'Love Has No Labels' campaign addresses Black Lives Matter in new spot
The Ad Council’s long-running “Love Has No Labels” campaign directly addresses the Black Lives Matter movement and protests against police violence with a new spot out today. It juxtaposes the freedoms Americans are supposed to be able to take for granted with the deaths and harassment of Black people during innocuous and innocent activities.
5:22 PM EDT
Conagra is reviewing the Mrs. Butterworth’s brand following racial backlash
Mrs. Butterworth’s brand and packaging are under review as brands using images of Black characters receive increased scrutiny from the Black Lives Matter movement following the killing of George Floyd.
Mrs. Butterworth's origin and race have never been specified by the brand. But the dark coloring of the syrup in the clear bottle gives many people the idea she is meant to represent a Black woman.
“The Mrs. Butterworth's brand, including its syrup packaging, is intended to evoke the images of a loving grandmother,” Conagra said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with our Black and Brown communities and we can see that our packaging may be interpreted in a way that is wholly inconsistent with our values.”
3:45 PM EDT
Dentsu Aegis Network releases its diversity makeup in leaked letter
Jacki Kelley, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network, Americas, sent a leaked letter to staff detailing the ways in which the company will be working to build "a truly diverse workplace, absent of discrimination, racism or bias." The letter also included the diversity makeup of the holding company.
Less than 2 percent of executives are Black or African American and the company is creating a plan to build a more inclusive workplace.
1:42 PM EDT
Netflix CEO donates $120 million to Black institutions
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is personally donating $120 million to historically Black colleges and universities. The donation, which will go to the United Negro College Fund, Spelman College and Morehoue College, is the largest-ever individual gift to support scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities. 
The streaming giant also bought billboard ads to promote its Black Lives Matter collection of content that was rolled out last week. Netflix is making an out-of-home push to get people to watch the titles featured in the collection, which includes “13th,” “When They See Us,” “Dear White People” and “Da 5 Bloods.” The ads will appear this week in Los Angeles and New York, including in Times Square.  
The company had previously announced it was making a $5 million donation to support several nonprofit organizations.  
11:38 AM EDT
ARF CEO will match $150,000 in donations to diversity effort
Advertising Research Foundation CEO Scott McDonald will personally match up to $150,000 in corporate donations to a new program, ARF WIDE: Workforce Initiative for Diversity and Excellence , that aims to provide scholarships, internships, mentoring and networking opportunities for economically disadvantaged college or junior-college students interested in research and analytics. Eligible students include those from minority groups, low-income families, disadvantaged urban, suburban or rural districts or first-generation college students. The effort also will receive some funds from the group’s 2020 ARF David Ogilvy Awards. 
11:21 AM EDT
PepsiCo lays out $400 million ‘Journey to Racial Equality’ strategy
PepsiCo said this week it would put in place more than $400 million in initiatives over five years to elevate Black communities, as well as increase Black representation at the company. “We know that the first step toward change is to speak up, so I want to be very clear: Black Lives Matter, to our company and to me,” Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said in a statement posted online on Tuesday.
The food and beverage marketer’s “Journey to Racial Equality” plans include adding 100 Black associates to its executive ranks and more than doubling its spending with Black-owned suppliers. 
On Wednesday, PepsiCo’s Aunt Jemima brand announced plans to do away with the image of a Black woman on its packaging and plans to change the pancake and syrup brand’s name.
10:49 AM EDT
WPP commits $30 million over next three years to combat systemic racism
WPP is the first holding company to announce a commitment to taking "decisive action on each of the 12 points in the 'Call for Change'" open letter sent to agency leaders last week. WPP also announced an investment of $30 million over the next three years to fund inclusion programs within the holding company and support external organizations fighting racism.
9:46 AM EDT
Uncle Ben’s says it plans to evolve its brand, including the visual identity
Uncle Ben’s may soon get a makeover as owner Mars Food evaluates the brand’s meaning and values and considers the imagery of a Black man that has graced its packaging since 1946.
“As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices,” parent company Mars Inc. said in a statement. “As we listen to the voices of consumers, especially in the Black community, and to the voices of our Associates worldwide, we recognize that one way we can do this is by evolving the Uncle Ben’s brand, including its visual brand identity.”
Read more here . 
9:00 AM EDT
Black execs form nonprofit 600 & Rising, backed by the 4As, to hold ad industry accountable for racial equity
Last week, more than 600 Black advertising professionals put out a  call to action  to ad agency leaders to finally take real steps to end systemic racism in the industry. Now, their coalition has become an official organization, backed by the 4As. 
Led by President Nathan Young, who also serves as a group strategy director at Minneapolis agency Periscope, and VP-Partnerships Bennett D. Bennett, principal at consultancy Aerialist, the nonprofit organization is called 600 & Rising—though already it boasts more than 1,100 members. 
7:00 AM EDT
Aunt Jemima to retire image and name
Aunt Jemima’s image and name are being retired in a major branding shift that comes weeks into the rising swell of racial justice announcements from companies following the killing of George Floyd.
The Aunt Jemima brand name dates back to 1889. The brand has been owned by PepsiCo Inc. since 2001, when the soft drink and snack giant acquired Quaker Oats Co. The face of a Black woman has been seen on the packaging since the early 1890s and has been updated over the years.
“We recognize Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype,” Kristin Kroepfl, VP and chief marketing officer of Quaker Foods North America, said in a statement. “While work has been done over the years to update the brand in a manner intended to be appropriate and respectful, we realize those changes are not enough.”
Packaging without the Aunt Jemima image will begin to appear in the last three months of 2020. The name change is set to be announced at a later date and to quickly follow the first phase of the packaging changes, the company said. Details on the new name were not disclosed. 
6:21 PM EDT
Roger Goodell encourages NFL teams to sign Colin Kaepernick
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said NFL teams should sign Colin Kaepernick—the former 49ers quarterback who knelt during the national anthem to call attention to racial inequities—if he should choose to return. Kaepernick has not been picked up by an NFL team since the 2016-17 season.
In response to a question from ESPN about what role he foresees Kaepernick playing in the NFL going forward, Goodell responded: “If he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s going to take a team to make that decision but I welcome that.” He continued that if Kaepernick does not wish to return, the NFL will welcome him as an advisor on helping the organization “deal with some very complex, difficult issues that have been around unfortunately for a very long time.”
The statement, posted by ESPN on June 15, comes after the commissioner came out with an apology in response to a video created by NFL players, including Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley, in the beginning of June, demanding that the league condemn racism.
In his apology, Goodell said the league was wrong in how it previously handled players’ protests against racism and police brutality. His comments opened up questions about whether Kaepernick would be welcomed back to an NFL team
5:35 PM EDT
Agencies observe Juneteenth as a company holiday
HellaCreative, a collective of Black San Francisco Bay Area creatives, put out a call urging companies to make Juneteenth a company holiday to give employees the day off to “reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery in the country.” Several brands have joined in and now agencies are, as well.
A list of companies celebrating Juneteenth as a holiday can be found here . Agencies that will be doing so include Dagger, GroupM, Oberland, The Martin Agency, Publicis Sapient, MediaCom, Deutsch, Ogilvy, Huge, Praytell, IPG Mediabrands, Big Spaceship, Anomaly, R/GA, Project Worldwide, Verb, George P. Johnson, Moxie, Zenith, MRY, FCB and Essence.
“Dagger will now observe Juneteenth as a day of reflection, respect, and celebration for as long as Dagger exists,” says Dagger CEO Mike Popowski, in announcing the agency’s decision. “When June 19th falls on a weekend, as it does in 2021 and 2022, the company will observe the adjacent Friday or Monday. For this year, we encourage you to try to take this Friday completely away from Dagger responsibilities.”
The Martin Agency, alongside closing its doors on Friday, announced in an Instagram post that it would also be celebrating with a live poetry reading by singer-songwriter Nicky McMullen and a performance by music group Resound.
 
2:23 PM EDT
NBC looks to diversify shows by funding additional writer for each of its 2020-2021 scripted series
NBC is working to diversify the writers’ rooms for all of its scripted series for the 2020-2021 season by offering showrunners the chance to add a diverse writer at any level to their team before productions get under way.
“Our brand has always championed positive programming, and the events of this year have allowed us the time to take pause, examine our business with a new lens and take some immediate action. ... It is not the solution by any means, but it is something we can do right now to take a positive step,” said Paul Telegdy, chairman, NBC Entertainment. 
This comes as NBC unveiled its new fall schedule, which the network is confident will return intact, despite production delays amid COVID-19.
9:36 AM EDT
Free the Work shines a light on the lack of Black directors in ad production
Free the Work, the organization founded by director Alma Har’el to help ensure more representation of female directors in the commercial industry, today shines a light on the lack of representation of Black directors in advertising—through data.
Free the Work analyzed the rosters of more than 100 production firms from the U.S. and the U.K. and found a glaringly low percentage of Black directors across that talent lineup. Moreover, it found many production company rosters had no Black directors at all in their talent pool.
The research, which Free the Work unveiled in a statement to the industry today, found that 34 out of 60 U.S. firms and 25 out of 45 U.K. companies have no Black directors on their benches. More broadly, out of the 1,204 directors in those 60 U.S. shops, only 4 percent are Black, while out of the 1,075 directors across 45 U.K. rosters, only 3 percent are Black. 
9:15 AM EDT
Target joins other brands in making Juneteenth a holiday
Last week, several high-profile brands including Nike, Square and Twitter committed to making June 19, or Juneteenth—the day that slavery ended in the U.S.—a paid company holiday. Target is now doing the same, the chain announced via Twitter. Since stores will remain open, Target’s hourly store workers will be paid holiday premium pay, the company said. In a statement, CEO Brian Cornell noted that the trauma the country is experiencing from racism right now is not new, but “there’s a sense that this time is, and has to be, different.” In early June, Target, which is headquartered in the city where George Floyd was killed, said it was investing $10 million to support the African American Leadership Forum and the National Urban League.
. @Target is proud to recognize Juneteenth as an official annual company holiday. Hourly team members scheduled to work that day will be paid holiday premium pay as stores + DCs remain open. U.S. HQ locations are closed in observance. Click for details: https://t.co/Nlz0FHIifc pic.twitter.com/oZKjfldpbr
— Target News (@TargetNews) June 16, 2020
7:00 AM EDT
Bumble bridges support for LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter with in-app campaign
As Americans began rallying for racial equality and justice for the death of George Floyd at the beginning of June, several brands  postponed their original Pride plans  or announced that they would incorporate Black Lives Matter support into their Pride initiatives.
Bumble is one of the first brands to announce its new merged Pride, Black Lives Matter initiative. On Monday, the female-focused dating app announced a new in-app campaign that asks users to nominate LGBTQ+ organizations that support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) the company can support with donations. Bumble is looking to donate $5,000 each to select organizations that provide services for at-risk committees, such as bail and mutual aid funds.
6:35 PM EDT
Walt Disney places ABC News executive on administrative leave following reports of racist remarks
The media industry is in a state of upheaval as more instances of alleged racial bias and discrimination surface. On Monday, Walt Disney Co. placed an ABC News executive on administrative leave following reports she used racially charged language against Robin Roberts, a black anchor on "Good Morning America." USA Today reported that the executive, Barbara Fedida, was accused of criticizing Roberts during a contract dispute, saying, "it wasn’t as if the network was asking Roberts to 'pick cotton.'" The Huffington Post wrote about the allegation before Fedida was put on administrative leave.
Also on Monday, former employees accused Pinterest of racial insensitivity and criticized the company for claiming to support Black Lives Matter while failing to support them while they worked there. Bloomberg News reported on two former Pinterest employees, both black women who worked on its public policy and social impact team. 
Aerica Shimizu Banks said she was subjected to derogatory remarks by a manager, and Ifeoma Ozoma said a male colleague led a bullying campaign against her. “We want to share our story so that if other Black women are experiencing this at Pinterest or other companies, they know that they’re not alone,” Shimizu Banks told Bloomberg News. “We are here to listen to them and support them.”
2:15 PM EDT
Agencies begin to reveal the diversity of their executive boards
Last week, Nathan Young, a group strategy director at Minneapolis agency Periscope, and Bennett D. Bennett, who runs independent consultancy Aerialist, led the charge by writing an  open letter  to U.S. agencies  outlining the list of actions  they should take to achieve true equity for people of color in the indust