BarkBox CEO apologizes after leaked memo exposes plan to axe ‘politically charged' Pride marketing
The subscription service delivers dog toys and treats to customers' door fronts monthly, and has been selling Pride-themed products as optional add-ons for the past four years.
'While celebrating Pride is something we may value, we need to acknowledge that the current climate makes this promotion feel more like a political statement than a universally joyful moment for all dog people,' a staffer said in the leaked message.
4 BarkBox sells dog toys and treats in a monthly subscription service.
Sergi Alexander
The employee argued that if BarkBox wasn't comfortable promoting 'another politically charged symbol (like a MAGA-themed product), it's worth asking whether this is the right moment to run this particular campaign.'
Meeker, who co-founded the $236 million company in 2011, on Wednesday confirmed the leaked message was from a BarkBox employee and issued an apology on the company's Instagram account.
'The message was disrespectful and hurtful to the LGBTQIA+ community, and as the CEO of BARK, I'm responsible for that,' Meeker wrote.
'I do not agree with the content of the message. It wasn't good, it doesn't reflect our values, and I'm deeply sorry that it happened.'
He said BarkBox is still selling Pride-themed dog products on its site, though he did not comment on whether the company killed its marketing push for the collection.
BarkBox did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether the marketing campaign was canceled.
4 BarkBox CEO Matt Meeker apologized on Wednesday over the leaked message.
REUTERS
The company donates a portion of the profits from the collection to an LGBTQIA+ nonprofit each year, Meeker said. It will up that commitment to 100% of the revenue this year, he added.
His apology followed swift backlash online from customers and former employees who slammed the message as offensive and hurtful.
'So @barkbox compared being LBGTQ+ to being MAGA, so if you give a f— about queer people, cancel your subscription today!' one user wrote in a post on X.
4 A leaked BarkBox employee message that circulated on Reddit.
Another wrote: 'My former employer paused all marketing on Pride toys and cancelled donating the proceeds to a great org because… *checks notes* … a single bigot doesn't understand how BarkBox works? You literally have to CHOOSE and PAY MORE for the Pride toys.'
BarkBox is just the latest company entrenched in a scandal over its marketing of Pride products.
Mass boycotts against Target for a Pride collection that included kid's clothing and Bud Light for partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney hurt the company's bottom lines.
Pride events taking place this month have seen some major sponsors retreat as they fear retribution from customers and the Trump administration, which has been targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
4 A BarkBox subscription box filled with movie-themed dog toys and treats.
BarkBox
Longtime sponsors of New York City's Pride March, including Mastercard, Citi, PepsiCo and Nissan, this year chose not to renew the funding.
'This isn't about backing away from support – it's about tone and ensuring our marketing remains inclusive and welcoming to everyone in our community,' the leaked BarkBox message said.
'Right now, pushing this promo risks unintentionally sending the message that 'we're not for you' to a large portion of our audience.'
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