Demsey removed the post that caused his firing. The Daily Beast reportedthat the meme included a racial slur. Demsey posted a apology on Instagram. He said he was sorry for the meme and that it was not what he stands for.
Demsey was responsible for brands like Clinique and M.A.C. Cosmetics was founded by Demsey in 1991 and joined Estee Lauder in 1991. He also participated in many AIDS-related charities. Demsey stated that the brand had “embraced hip-hop culture” and was an early beauty brand to do this in a 2019 interview.
He noted, “It becomes increasingly difficult to keep connected with the next generation as one gets older.”
Demsey, 65, was fired as companies seek to be more diverse. Many have promised to hire and promote more Black employees in the wake the George Floyd murder. Although many beauty brands are encouraging more diversity in their marketing campaigns, there are still some companies in this industry that have a 2% to 3% Black employee base, according to Essence.
Executive chairman William P. Lauder signed the memo that announced Demsey’s firing. CEO Fabrizio Fena stated that Demsey’s Instagram post was “damaging” to our efforts to promote inclusivity inside and outside of our walls. It also did not reflect the judgement we expect from our leaders.
They also stated that “Inclusion, diversity, and equity are core values of our company’s global priorities and values.”
