This week, we’re taking a closer look at the role of social media in the Amber Heard/Johnny Depp defamation trial, reflecting on a local brand awareness play gone very, very wrong, exploring just how bad Jeff Bezos is at Twitter, and more.
💡ON OUR MINDS
Social media’s role in the Heard v. Depp defamation trial
The Amber Heard-Johnny Depp defamation trial has taken the nation by storm across social media. News of the proceedings received more clicks online than any other major news stories lately, including the war in Ukraine and the leaked Supreme Court opinion.
Heard and Depp have each accused the other of domestic abuse. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million, claiming that an op-ed she wrote in the Washington Post about domestic abuse in 2018 irreparably damaged his career. Heard then filed a countersuit for $100 million against Depp.
The boundary between spectatorship and participation across social media has been blurry at best. This trial is the first of its kind in the TikTok era. Multiple videos from the trial have gone viral across the platform, sparking several memes that continue to circulate. Many of the memes have mocked Heard’s reactions in court in favor of Depp. Public sentiment on social media, in general, has trended pro-Depp, with hashtags like #justiceforjohnnydepp receiving over 10 billion views, while #justiceforamberheard only has 39 million.
Accounts across the internet are jumping in to mock Heard, including brands like Duolingo (below) and cultural institutions like SNL.
The sheer inescapability of these memes, jokes, and videos does not bode well for similar cases. Already, it seems to have inspired Marilyn Manson to file a defamation suit against claims of sexual violence from Evan Rachel Wood. Domestic abuse survivors are speaking out about the triggering effects of this online behavior.
What makes this case so tricky? According to a New York Times op-ed, Heard isn’t a “perfect victim.” It’s difficult to paint her as faultless because she has also participated in “mutual abuse,” as their marriage counselor claimed during the trial. The narrative around the trial indicates an expectation to perform the role of domestic violence victim correctly.
What’s up with the women’s health and wellness space?
It’s only appropriate that this Women’s Health Month, new avenues for women to receive care are opening and conversations around women’s health are becoming less stigmatized.
In recent months, we’ve seen conversation swirl as investor interest in the women’s digital health space heats up (particularly around fertility), and disruptive start-ups, like Tia, continue to expand into the market.
But while all this talk about women’s health is encouraging, it does beg the question: what does the media consider women’s health?
For example, Modern Age, a company that offers “personalized guidance for aging well,” was recently featured in Fast Company’s coverage of New York City’s “women’s health micro-neighborhood.” While a block of “women’s health” clinics undoubtedly bodes well for women who are looking for a convenient, one-stop health shop, it seems like a general misfire that a company that offers “treatments” for aging is intrinsically linked to women by the media.
Is it possible that these gendered expectations in the media around women’s health are counterproductive to creating more open, empathetic conversations? If we had to guess, we’d say so.
But, what about the kids? That’s right, even children are key stakeholders in the health and wellness space these days.
Consumer-driven wellness culture is trying to reach children audiences by advertising Peloton-bikes for kids, wellness Barbie, and more. When we consider the poor mental health amongst children and adolescents has never been higher, you have to wonder if creating a whole other category of lifestyle expectations is the best way to promote childhood “wellness.”
🏆 BRAND FAIL OF THE WEEK: Grubhub
There’s nothing people love more than free food, especially when it’s delivered straight to their doorsteps. Amidst an increasingly saturated and competitive food delivery market, on Tuesday, Grubhub offered free lunch to New Yorkers between prime lunch hours.
And, well, it was interesting to say the least. While the campaign was intended to generate goodwill amongst consumers (which mostly failed due to long wait times), restaurant owners did not leave feeling warm and fuzzy.
Restaurant owners’ criticism of the Grubhub platform isn’t anything new: in recent years, they’ve claimed that they’ve been listed as a delivery partner without consent and that the platform’s commission cuts into their profit margins. If anything, Grubhub’s campaign only further perpetuated a public narrative that they lack consideration for the partners that their business relies upon.
So, what started as a well-intended engagement play to attract consumers ended up a dumpster fire. Brand loyalty can’t be bought – just earned through thoughtful and considerate communications with all stakeholders.
📡 ON OUR RADAR
What does the media consider publishable? Jessica Defino’s newsletter, ‘The Unpublishable,’ launched with this question in mind after pitching a piece about the lack of diversity in beauty photography a few years ago. In exciting news, this particular story has a happier ending - one woman was inspired by the original post and has become the “hands” of brands across the industry.
The long, slow debate over the return to the office continues. Since Airbnb announced its work-from-anywhere policy, employees across the tech industry have asked loudly for more flexibility with regards to location. In an increasingly crowded talent market, brands can bolster their reputation among staff and the public by meeting the demand.
Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale has often been used as a point of reference in the events of the past few years, but with the recent Supreme Court opinion leak and other local law developments around abortion, the author took to The Atlantic to share her perspective on how she sees modern American society inching closer to her fictional Gilead.
The latest issue of The Atlantic also includes an excellent longread about American evangelicalism. “Having grown up just down the road, the son of the senior pastor at another church in town, I’ve spent my life watching evangelicalism morph from a spiritual disposition into a political identity,” writes Tim Alberta. There’s a lot to unpack in this article, but one thing’s for sure: the relationship between faith and politics in this country is taking on a new alignment with lasting implications for business, government, and people.
An LA judge has ruled California’s law requiring corporate boards to have at least three female directors unconstitutional. The judge’s decision rests on the idea that this requirement would violate the right to equal treatment. For its part, the state argued that the law was necessary to reverse discrimination, and that it wouldn’t require companies to strip male board members to make room for women.
Jeff Bezos is bad at Twitter! At least The Verge thinks so. They argue that Bezos’s failure to dominate the Twittersphere like Elon Musk (who is undeniably good at Twitter, whether or not he actually buys it) is a failure of messaging and marketing. However, not everyone should behave like Musk. In fact, barely anyone should. Different audiences take different things away from different platforms, and lots of people engage with Bezos’s posts and content like it. Just because your brand’s tweets aren’t making Page Six doesn’t mean they aren’t successful.
Goldman Sachs is racing to keep up with the changing tides in today’s heated job market by allowing senior staff to take unlimited PTO. What began as a pipe-dream for many is now a reality even in the highest echelons of the finance world. Now it’s time for the company and its customers to see how this new policy affects productivity, recruitment practices, and talent acquisitions. Next on Goldman HR’s plate is their response to junior bankers threatening to quit over an entirely in-person workweek.
The fallout from Netflix’s bumpy first quarter continues. The long-dominant platform announced yet another round of job cuts, raising questions industry-wide about the future viability of the streaming business.
Law enforcement officials are warning businesses to prepare for unrest from both ends of the political spectrum in the wake of the Roe v. Wade decision from the Supreme Court. We’ll be keeping an eye on corporate statements surrounding the decision.
Macy’s taps a previously underserved market, introducing a new clothing line in the colors of historically Black sororities, paired with a donation to these organizations. This launch was inspired internally by a Macy’s buyer and sorority member who was struggling to find dresses in her organization’s colors. While many companies have attempted to cater to Black shoppers following the wave of BLM momentum in June 2020, Macy’s went all-in on this initiative and is finding the business case to be paying off, with strong early sales and significant market share.
In case you missed it, Squishmallows are the Supreme of the stuffed animal world. Created by Kelly Toys in 2017, the multi-sized and multi-themed plush toys boomed in popularity at the height of the pandemic, now equivalent to hot commodities like rare sneakers and Playstation 5s. The brand’s releases sell out in minutes and pop up on resale sites for over double retail price. The trend has also helped some committed resellers achieve online followings and full-time income from their businesses. The Squishmallow craze has not slowed in its five years of existence, but will everyday buyers ever get the opportunity to purchase one easily?
Who will win the ear-piercing market? Target, CVS, and Five Below are officially entering the space that has been historically dominated by Claire’s and tattoo parlors. It may come down to reputation - Target is offering piercings from licensed nurses and CVS brings its status as a pharmacy to the table, while Claire’s and Five Below bring the kid-friendly vibes.
🥊QUICK HITS:
In case you missed these stories this week.
No business is safe from rising prices, not even thrift stores. As Gen-Z aesthetics, resellers fiending for rare garments, and inflation drive prices up, gone are the days of 99 cent t-shirts that inspired Macklemore’s 2012 hit – sigh.
In a positive step towards destigmatizing mental health, this Mental Health Awareness Month, Hinge is empowering users to show off their “green flags” by helping them start the conversation about how they prioritize their mental health.
A new venture claims it’s developed a ship that can turn the plastic in our oceans into climate-friendly fuel, which would be good for the planet and corporate sustainability efforts.
Bid ‘Bitch’ goodbye: After a 26-year run that saw feminist media criticism go mainstream, the zine-turned-conglomerate will shutter in June.
Quite the Freudian slip from George W. Bush
We’ll see you here next week! 👋
HL
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The fine print: This week’s newsletter is brought to you by a deep dive on the humble Stanley Tumbler.