Politics
Woke CEO Backtracks After Company Loses MILLIONS
Andrew Dudum, the CEO of telehealth company Hims & Hers, is facing backlash after expressing his desire to hire students who protested against Israel on college campuses. In the immediate aftermath of his comments, the company’s stock value plunged, wiping out nearly $210 million in market value.
The controversy began when Dudum, in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), stated his willingness to employ students who participated in protests against Israel and faced disciplinary action from their universities. He framed the act as “moral courage” greater than a “college degree.” Encouraging protesters to continue their activism, Dudum said that there are many companies and CEOs eager to hire them, linking the post to the company’s job openings.
This caused outrage among many stakeholders, especially as protest actions were often linked to antisemitism and intimidation. The market quickly reacted. Hims & Hers stock fell 8% on May 3, as investors rushed to distance themselves from Dudum’s controversial comments. The company’s market value decreased from $2.62 billion to $2.41 billion in a matter of hours according to The New York Post.
Moral courage > College degree
If you’re currently protesting against the genocide of the Palestinian people & for your university’s divestment from Israel, keep going. It’s working.
There are plenty of companies & CEOs eager to hire you, regardless of university discipline.…
— andrewdudum (@AndrewDudum) May 1, 2024
After observing the financial repercussions and widespread backlash, Dudum attempted to clarify his stance, saying that his remarks had been “misconstrued.” In a follow-up thread on X, he wrote that he does not support violence, antisemitism, or intimidation. He reiterated his belief in the right to peaceful protest, calling it vital for democracy.
“Every student deserves to feel safe without fear of harm or being targeted for who they are. I am deeply saddened that my support for peaceful protest has been interpreted by some as encouraging violence, intimidation, or bigotry of any kind,” wrote Dudum. Dudum acknowledged his Palestinian roots and the trauma experienced by Palestinian refugees, while also expressing his solidarity with Holocaust survivors in his family. However, this attempt at nuance was not enough to stem the tide of criticism.
I, in no way condone nor support acts or threats of violence, antisemitism, or intimidation and there is absolutely no justification for violence on our campuses. Every student deserves to feel safe without fear of harm or being targeted for who they are. I am deeply saddened…
— andrewdudum (@AndrewDudum) May 5, 2024
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As a father whose children are both the descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled the Nakba in 1948, and the descendants of Holocaust survivors from Poland, as I have previously shared, I have a personal appreciation for the different perspectives people have which I live with…
— andrewdudum (@AndrewDudum) May 5, 2024
In an opinion piece published in the New York Post, Piers Morgan criticized Dudum’s statements and characterized them as morally bankrupt. Morgan argued that Dudum showed support for anti-Israel protesters who displayed banners calling for “intifada” and exhibited violent intent during demonstrations.
“Today, of course, he did what all virtue-signaling corporate imbeciles do when they suddenly discover their customer base doesn’t share their woke bulls–t: He melted like an ice cream cone in a heat wave,” Morgan wrote. “In a self-pitying non-apology of a thread on X, Dudum walked back his previous comments, insisting he doesn’t condone or support violence, antisemitism or intimidation, even though that was exactly what he’d done.”
According to Morgan, Dudum’s decision to stand with these protesters displayed a lack of genuine moral courage and a two-faced approach to the conflict.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp criticized the protesters, suggesting that they be sent to North Korea as part of an “exchange program” to provide them with perspective. “We’re gonna do an exchange program sponsored by Karp. A couple months in North Korea, nice-tasting flavored bark. See how you feel about that,” Karp stated on Wednesday.
Despite Dudum’s clarifications, the damage was already done. Many investors and customers viewed his initial comments as a blatant endorsement of divisive and violent activism. As a result, the company’s stock continues to suffer.
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