Burger King's Controversial 'Women Belong in the Kitchen' Tweet

Burger King sparked controversy with its International Women’s Day advertisement featuring the phrase, “Women belong in the kitchen.” This campaign was launched through a print ad in the New York Times, which explained the introduction of the H.E.R. (Helping Equalize Restaurants) Scholarship aimed at supporting women working at Burger King who aspire to further their culinary education.

However, various local Twitter accounts, including @BurgerKingUK, shared the headline without the necessary context, resulting in significant backlash online. In an attempt to mitigate the situation, Burger King engaged with fans and created a discussion thread, but ultimately deleted the original tweet and issued an apology.

Why this is significant: The landscape of social media often rewards controversial content, and Burger King took a gamble with their phrasing. The context provided in the print ad was more effective than the tweet alone, underscoring the importance of nuance in global campaigns. Allowing such provocative language to circulate without proper context was a critical misstep for the brand.

My perspective? I find the tactic of using misogynistic language for attention to be misguided. There were certainly better ways for Burger King to convey their message. I would love to hear your thoughts on this campaign in the comments below.

Agency Launches "Burger Queen" Merchandise in Response

In light of Burger King’s controversial campaign, a woman-led agency named Hunt, Gather swiftly created a “Burger Queen” merchandise line. Comprising 95% female staff and based in Austin, Texas, the agency aimed to promote female empowerment through their reimagined campaign. The proceeds from this initiative will support the Girls Empowerment Network, which provides resources and camps to inspire girls to pursue their dreams.

Check out some of their impressive products — they truly reflect a positive message!

Dolce & Gabbana's €600 Million Lawsuit Against Influencers

In 2018, fashion watchdog Diet Prada exposed racist comments made by Dolce & Gabbana's founder on social media. This incident arose after the brand faced backlash for offensive promotional videos featuring a Chinese woman eating Italian food with chopsticks, leading to the cancellation of their Shanghai fashion show.

While Dolce & Gabbana publicly apologized shortly thereafter, they also filed a €600 million lawsuit against Diet Prada in 2019, a fact that came to light through Instagram posts from the watchdog group.

Why this is important: Diet Prada has established itself as a prominent voice in fashion critique, and their response to the lawsuit is telling. They have utilized their platform to raise awareness and seek funding to contest the legal action. This case highlights a potentially dangerous precedent for influencers and watchdogs, as it raises questions about freedom of speech in the fashion industry.

Triller Network Acquires Verzuz

If you haven't heard about Verzuz yet, you're in for a treat! This popular live-streaming music platform, co-founded by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, gained immense popularity during the pandemic by hosting “battles” between iconic artists.

Why it matters: Recently, Verzuz was acquired by Triller Network, the parent company of the Triller app. Swizz Beatz and Timbaland will join Triller’s management team, and interestingly, they plan to share part of their equity with the 46 artists who have participated in Verzuz battles.

I believe Verzuz has the potential to thrive even beyond the pandemic, as it has already shown its ability to rejuvenate artists' careers and boost music sales.

Beeple's NFT Sells for a Record $69.3 Million

Digital artist Beeple made waves in the art world with the sale of an NFT for an astonishing $69.3 million during a Christie’s auction titled “Everydays: The First 5,000 Days.” This piece represents 5,000 individual digital artworks created daily.

Why this is significant: This sale has set a record for the highest-priced artwork sold at auction by a living artist. The auction’s final moments attracted millions of visitors from around the world, highlighting the growing interest in NFTs.

What else to consider: As the landscape of NFTs continues to evolve, numerous articles provide insights into this trend.

NewNew App: Monetizing Daily Decisions

What if you could monetize every choice you make daily? That’s the concept behind NewNew, an app allowing influencers to poll their audiences on everyday decisions, with fans paying to cast their votes.

Why this is relevant: As digital creators seek new income streams, this app could provide a novel way to engage audiences. However, it has sparked criticism for commodifying personal choices, reminiscent of themes from the Netflix show, Black Mirror.

Will it succeed? The outcome is uncertain, but the app's success hinges on creator engagement and the appeal of poll options.

Facebook Introduces New Monetization Features

Facebook has rolled out new monetization options for creators, focusing on short video content. Creators can now earn revenue from videos as short as one minute, with ads placed strategically to maximize engagement.

Why this is relevant: As competition with platforms like TikTok intensifies, Facebook’s new features provide creators with additional opportunities to monetize their content. However, skepticism remains regarding Facebook's consistency in supporting such initiatives.

Jessica Gioglio is the co-author of The Laws of Brand Storytelling and The Power of Visual Storytelling. She has led innovative marketing strategies for brands like Dunkin’ Donuts and TripAdvisor and is the founder of With Savvy Media & Marketing, a consultancy specializing in branding and content strategy.

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