Toyota is the latest major brand to pump the brakes on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
As per an internal memo seen by Bloomberg, the car brand emailed around 50,000 employees and 1,500 dealers in the U.S. Thursday, regarding “a highly politicized discussion” on its DEI commitments.
The communication said Toyota would refocus DEI programs, no longer sponsor LGBTQ events, and pull out of corporate culture surveys such as the rankings by LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
Household names rollback DEI promises
The company has recently become the latest target of Robby Starbuck, a 35-year-old Tennessee resident and former music video director who has become a conservative activist with hefty follower counts on social media.
Starbuck’s anti-DEI efforts started with Tractor Supply June 6 in a lengthy post on X in which he called out the company and its chief executive (CEO), Hal Lawton, over its inclusion policies. He targeted the company’s hiring practices and funding of LGBTQ+ Pride events among other initiatives.
Later that month, Tractor Supply bowed to the pressure, saying in a statement it had taken “disappointed” customers’ feedback “to heart.”
At the time the business confirmed it would no longer submit data to HRC, eliminate DEI roles, and retire current DEI goals “while still ensuring a respectful environment.” Instead, it committed to placing “further focus on rural America priorities including agricultural education, animal welfare, veteran causes, and being a good neighbor, and stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns.”
Starbuck then took aim at Ford, Molson Coors, and Harley-Davidson, yielding similar results.
