Netflix apologizes for film’s promo image, Estée Lauder to lay off up to 2,000 employees; Airbnb bans parties

Also: Broadway turns to Airbnb with virtual experiences, IKEA Taiwan mimics Animal Crossing, 55% of consumers expect action from brands supporting social issues, and more. Hello, communicators: Estée Lauder Companies are preparing to lay off 1,500-2,000 employees worldwide, representing 3% of its workforce. The move comes after the beauty brand reported declining sales from COVID-19. Moving forward, it will focus on e-commerce offerings. Forbes reported: While the company will eliminate some roles—mainly point-of-sale employees and related support staff—it will investment in new ones in high-growth areas like online. Here are today’s top stories: Netflix issues mea culpa over ‘inappropriate’ artwork The streaming service has apologized and pulled promotional posters for “Cuties” after swift backlash online. More than 148,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to remove the film from Netflix. The Los Angeles Times reported: The movie, about an 11-year-old who rebels against her family and joins a “free-spirited dance crew,” is accused in the online campaign of sexualizing young girls “for the viewing pleasure of pedophiles.” Originally titled “Mignonnes,” the project premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won a jury award for directing. The BBC reported: Director Maimouna Doucouré has explained that the story aims to highlight how social media pushes girls to mimic sexualised imagery without fully understanding what lies behind it or the dangers involved. Netflix tweeted an apology, saying the poster wasn’t “representatitve” of the film: https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1296486375211053057 Why it’s important: The images you use are just as important as the words you select. Take care not to choose visuals that might send the wrong message. This advice is relevant for campaigns that aren’t addressing sensitive or controversial topics, especially during COVID-19. For example, using images that lack diversity or publishing videos that don’t showcase masks or social distancing can also muddle your message and might even damage your brand image. SOCIAL BUZZ You can now dance, learn acting tips, go behind the scenes and listen to songs from Broadway actors and actresses while staying at home. The experiences are offered in partnership with Airbnb: https://twitter.com/BroadwayWorld/status/1296069911484272640 BroadwayWorld reported: Airbnb is joining forces with stage and screen star Tituss Burgess, original Broadway princesses Susan Egan, Laura Osnes, Courtney Reed, Aisha Jackson, and dozens more to bring you behind the scenes of your favorite musicals. Join talented actors, singers, set designers and dancers from Broadway, the West End, and beyond as they show you the ropes of their art form. Even the banner for the set of experiences is adapted for COVID-19, with a virtual-first spin on an old Broadway saying: Image courtesy of Airbnb. Airbnb had been highlighting its experiences before the COVID-19 crisis, and with the pandemic decimating the travel industry, the company is leaning on those experiences more than ever, which are now adapted for social distancing guidelines or offered virtually. MEASURED THOUGHTS Sprout Social reported that 58% of consumers are more likely to purchase from brands that share similar beliefs—and share those on social media platforms. However, sharing a statement is only the start—55% of consumers expect organizations to go farther than messages and donations, by pledging additional initiatives and commitments. For millennials, that expectation rises to 65%. Image courtesy of Sprout Social. Just as important as making commitments is keeping them. While 25% of consumers will unfollow your organization on social media if you don’t follow through with your promises to addressing social issues, 29% say they’ll boycott a brand and 42% will purchase from a competitor. Once that trust is gone, it’s hard to build up again. Image courtesy of Sprout Social. CRISIS LEADERSHIP BOARD Looking for more insight on how to address the current global crisis and lead your organization into a strong recovery? via GIPHY Join Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board to network and brainstorm with peers, get the latest intelligence and research and start to strategize for the future of your organization. Learn more about this exclusive membership here. Airbnb bans parties The company has officially prohibited house parties, now capping occupancy limits at 16 people per lisiting. In a blog post, Airbnb wrote: When the pandemic was declared, and social distancing became an important element in promoting public health and responsible travel, we updated our policies. We started by removing both the “event-friendly” search filter from our platform as well as “parties and events allowed” House Rules from any event-friendly listings. Most importantly, we introduced a new policy requiring all users to adhere to local COVID-19 public health mandates. At the time, most local governments were imposing strict limits on gatherings, which effectively created a form-fitting, patchwork ban on parties and events. However, in many large jurisdictions, public health mandates on gatherings have changed – and in some places swung back and forth in response to the changing rates of COVID cases – as have regulations on bars, clubs and pubs. Some have chosen to take bar and club behavior to homes, sometimes rented through our platform. We think such conduct is incredibly irresponsible – we do not want that type of business, and anyone engaged in or allowing that behavior does not belong on our platform. Business Insider reported: The ban is an extension of an already existing rule Airbnb implemented in late 2019, and represents the company's latest attempt to alter its business in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The move also comes amid a confidentially filed IPO—the latest indication that Airbnb intends to go public this year. Why it’s important: Especially after filing to become a publicly traded company, Airbnb is making sure the actions of its hosts and guests don’t negatively affect the company, which is already grappling with the COVID-19 crisis. Communicators across organizations and industries can take a nod from the move by making sure COVID-19 messages and policies are clearly relayed and enforced, lest their brand reputation is tarnished during a time when consumer trust is more crucial than ever. DOWNLOAD OUR REPORT Following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others, organizations were pushed more forcefully than ever before to take stands against systemic racism and move to support social justice initiatives. Which responses made an impact—and which responses fell flat? Learn from 10 of the biggest brand messages in our special report, “Organizational responses to Black Lives Matter.” The report offers communicators important takeaways to lead organizations and clients in the second half of 2020 and into the future. Download our report here. via GIPHY SOCIAL BUZZ IKEA Taiwan has recreated its catalog using Animal Crossing characters and designs: https://www.facebook.com/IKEA.Taiwan/photos/pcb.3166360083419872/3166346593421221 Engadget reported: The adorable alternate world pages are shown next to the real catalog, with occasionally accurate product substitutes and humorous alternatives for things that don’t exist in the game. As more brands are jumping on the bandwagon to market inside of games including Fortnite and Animal Crossing, successful efforts can provide inspiration to better engage with audiences on a new channel. WHAT YOU SAID We asked what your organization is offering employees as many workforces remain remote, and 75% of you have created virtual “hang outs” and ways to connect digitally, while 25% of you are boosting your content and training offerings: https://twitter.com/PRDaily/status/1296442404732579842 Is there a question you’d like us to ask in an upcoming poll? Let us know! SOUNDING BOARD Would you rather hear about brands' successes, or their failings? https://twitter.com/PRDaily/status/1296813604914765824 Share your thoughts below and under the #DailyScoop hashtag, and we’ll share on Monday. Until then, have a safe and relaxing weekend.

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