National brands flood social media with statements in support of Black Lives Matter
As thousands of protesters take to the streets following the death of George Floyd, national brands are voicing their support for the black community on social media.
Nike was one of the first to make news when it tweeted a video that flipped it’s iconic “Just Do It” slogan on its head.
“For once, don’t do it,” the video posted Friday read. “Don’t pretend there’s not a problem in America. Don’t turn your back on racism. Don’t accept innocent lives being taken from us. Don’t make any more excuses. Don’t think this doesn’t affect you. Don’t sit back and be silent. Don’t think you can’t be part of the change. Let’s all be part of the change.”
The one-minute video has been viewed more than 7 million times as of Tuesday.
Nickelodeon was among the companies that joined #BlackOutTuesday, muting its social media pages in solidarity.
“For #BlackOutTuesday, Nickelodeon social media will be on pause as we reflect on recent events,” the tweet said. “Our focus will be on building community, taking action, and sparking real change in the fight against racial injustice.”
The children’s television station also went off the air for 8 minutes and 46 minutes on Monday — the length of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck — along with networks including CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, BET, CMT, VH1 and Smithsonian, Fast Company reported.
The tweet featured an image of Nickelodeon’s Declaration of Kids’ Rights which included statements that kids “have the right to be treated with equality, regardless of the color of your skin” and that they “have the right to be protected from harm, injustice and hatred.”
Some, however, say brand support feels hollow.
On Monday, model Munroe Bergdorf took to Twitter after L’Oreal shared a post in support of Black Lives Matter to Instagram.
“Excuse my language but I am SO angry. F--- YOU @lorealparis,” she wrote in a tweet. “You dropped me from a campaign in 2017 and threw me to the wolves for speaking out about racism and white supremacy. With no duty of care, without a second thought.”
L’Oreal dropped Bergdorf after she spoke out against a Charlottesville white supremacist march in 2017, the New York Times reported.
Others have pointed out that many brand statements appear to follow a similar template.
Here’s how a few brands have expressed their support for the black community on social media:
Disney
“We stand against racism,” the company wrote on Twitter Sunday. “We stand for inclusion. We stand with our fellow Black employees, storytellers, creators and the entire Black community. We must unite and speak out.”
Netflix
“To be silent is to be complicit,” the streaming giant tweeted on Saturday. “Black lives matter. We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up.”
Target
“We are a community in pain,” the retailer tweeted on Friday. “That pain is not unique to the Twin Cities—it extends across America. And as a team we’ve vowed to face pain with purpose.”
Amazon
“The inequitable and brutal treatment of black people must stop,” the company said on Twitter Sunday. “Together we stand in solidarity with the Black community - our employees, customers and partners - in the fight against systemic racism and injustice.”
Reebok
“To the black community: We see you. We stand in solidarity with you,” the shoe retailer tweeted Saturday. “This can no longer be the status quo.”
HBO
“We stand with our Black colleagues, employees, fans, actors, storytellers — and all affected by senseless violence,” the network tweeted Saturday along with a quote from author James Baldwin.
Hulu
“We support Black lives.,” the streaming service wrote on Twitter Saturday. “Today, and every day. You are seen. You are heard. And we are with you.”
Uber
“We stand with the Black community,” the rideshare company tweeted Sunday. “We stand with those peacefully protesting injustice, hatred and racism. We stand in support of orgs like @eji_org and @policingequity working to make America more just for all.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 2:23 PM with the headline "National brands flood social media with statements in support of Black Lives Matter."