Estee Lauder suspends executive John Demsey after backlash over Instagram post
The executive oversees a portfolio of the cosmetics company’s brands including MAC and Clinique
New York-based cosmetics company Estee Lauder Cos. has suspended one of its top executives following backlash over a post on his personal Instagram account that contained a racial slur and jokes about Covid-19.
John Demsey serves as Executive Group President and oversees a portfolio of brands, including MAC, Clinique, and BECCA, among others.
John Demsey attends the 2019 WWD Beauty Inc Awards at The Rainbow Room on December 11, 2019, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
On Monday, a meme posted to Demsey's Instagram account featured a spoof book cover of the children’s TV show "Sesame Street." The post has since been deleted.
A company memo obtained by The Wall Street Journal states that Demsey was being placed on unpaid leave "due to content posted on his Instagram handle."
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"The content posted does not represent the values of The Estee Lauder Companies," the memo said. "As a company deeply committed to inclusive actions and behavior, and in line with our company policies, our employees and our leadership are accountable for upholding these values."
An Estee Lauder cosmetics counter is seen in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 19, 2019. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD)
Fox Business reached out to Demsey and a company spokesman for further comment but did not hear back before publication.
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Demsey, 65, has worked for Estee Lauder for more than 30 years. He became president of MAC Cosmetics before being named global president for Estee Lauder in 2006.
