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Motor Trend
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
An Oral History of Super Street
Join MotorTrend in our celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Each week, you'll hear from the incredible people who leave their mark on the automotive industry. Among the bounty of import and tuner magazines that dominated the late '90s and 2000s, Super Street stood out as the aspirational yet everyday achievable one. It took you across the country and around the world, showcasing builds everywhere from international stages to your buddy's backyard. Super Street existed in print from 1996 to 2019, and seeing as those are arguably the most influential years, they will be the ones discussed in this oral history. MotorTrend sat down with Richard Chang (associate editor, features editor, and editor-in-chief from 1998 to 2001), Jonathan Wong (associate editor, features editor, technical editor, and editor-in-chief from 1998 to 2014), and Sam Du (senior features editor and editor-in-chief from 2011 to 2020) to chat about the magazine's rise, crowning moments, and lasting legacy. [Editor's note: Super Street is part of MotorTrend, now all under the Hearst Autos umbrella.] See All 14 Photos Pictured: Matt Pearson Ideation for Super Street began in Los Angeles in 1995, when Matt Pearson was an editorial assistant for Hot Rod and driving a 1990 Honda Civic Si, according to this recounting from 2006. As Pearson told it, he suggested a new tuner and import magazine to John Dianna (former Petersen Publishing executive and publisher), since Turbo and Sport Compact Car were so big and successful. Dianna reportedly said something like that would never work at Petersen. Back then, Pearson would have had an easier time starting a Chevy title there, not one that showcased Honda or Acura imports. So Pearson stopped by that weekend's local Battle of the Imports event to take some pictures and brought them back to show Dianna. Impressed by the crowds, Dianna had Pearson put together a magazine proposal that befit the scene. Weeks went by without a word, and suddenly Pearson got the green light: The magazine was a go. Pearson departed Petersen in 2000, and Super Street's reins eventually passed to Chang, Wong, and Du. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Wong: I think the one thing that separated Super Street from Turbo and Sport Compact Car was coverage of a lot of events outside of California—drag races on the East Coast, big car shows in Carlisle, Pennsylvania—which was unique. I remember when I read Super Street for the first time on the newsstands, I thought it looked like a hot rod magazine. It taught you how to install things like a hot rod magazine. It wasn't like the other titles it competed against. That made it unusual. Chang: But there always was, like, this carved-out section for import cars. I think at that time, Super Street was much bigger on the East Coast than it was in California, right? See All 14 Photos A scene from the 2002 NDRA BFGoodrich Northeast Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania Du: The NOPI stuff. Chang: Yeah, we were at that big NOPI car show outside of Atlanta. But then in New York, it was crazy, too. Like, going for the first time to cover drag racing and everybody there would know our names? We were really big out there. To Matt Pearson's—the first editor—credit, I think very early on he knew it would be a struggle to compete with Turbo and Sport Compact on their own specific merits. He's like a branding genius in how he understood that they were focused on the SoCal scene, and there was this groundswell on the East Coast that was coming in. The most interesting thing is one of the most popular sections of the magazine at the time was Readers' Rides: readers just sending us photos of their cars. You would get the sense right away who was reading the magazine because they were all coming from, like, Voorhees and South Plainfield, New Jersey. They were building very, very different cars on the East Coast: Florida to New York, to Texas, to Pennsylvania. It's kind of like hip hop. Every area has its own style, and [Pearson] very much leaned into that. He listened to that audience and steered the magazine that way. See All 14 Photos Pictured: Richard Chang Chang: Honestly, a lot of credit to Johnny Wong for bringing on board a lot of the SoCal audience when he introduced JDM to the magazine. Wong: The JDM thing was a trend that came along at the right time. Because I was so interested, I thought it could be something different to add to the magazine to create some street cred. In the effort to be unique from the competition, some people weren't respecting us on certain levels. I thought that by adding this into it, it would help: bring some of those people that were talking shit on us to open up to us finally. It worked. Rich [Chang] would go off to Japan with photographers to start covering trends, and that's when we really started to switch the gears after Matt [Pearson] left. The things people were attracted to at that point were coming from Japan, JDM stuff. After Rich [Chang] left [in 2001], John Naderi came in and did his thing. After he left in 2007, I said, 'I'm gonna go 100,000 percent into the JDM thing and really turn it around.' So when [people] say that's what [they] know Super Street for, it's probably from this 2007-to-2010-and-beyond point. See All 14 Photos Pictured: Jonathan Wong Kristen Lee: Is it fair to say there wouldn't be as big a JDM scene in the U.S. today without Super Street? Wong: I think we just amplified it. There was no social media. We were basically the social media of the day. It wasn't like it wasn't available on the Internet. It would have made its rounds eventually, but being able to reach hundreds of thousands of people from the newsstand every month, that's quite a platform to speak from. Lee: Would you say Super Street embraced digital and social media long before the more traditional outlets did? See All 14 Photos A 1999 Nissan Silvia from an August 2002 story Wong: For web? Definitely not. I think we did a horrible job on web. [Source Interlink Media, a subsequent owner of Super Street] never really gave us great resources to work with. They treated us very low class at the company, only pretended to care about what we did. They were always trying to monetize web, and that never really worked. Wong: But social media? Nobody knew what to do with that, and we didn't, either. It was the Wild West. We did whatever we could to make that pop off. Nobody ever gave us recognition for it, even when we did break the million-follower mark. I like to say we were the first automotive brand to do a million followers on Instagram and Facebook. They never even sent out a press release. They should have, to let the world know. See All 14 Photos Jonathan Wong, Sam Du, and others celebrating 1 million social media followers in 2013 Lee: Arguably, no one knows how to monetize social media, but a million followers is still a million followers. Wong: We were very proud of that. Du: Yeah, I remember we were on the list with GQ and all these other brands. We had no reason to be on that list, but we were, like, top 10 for a while. Lee: Why is it that Super Street was not intended to be an Asian-car-interest magazine, but it sort of wound up feeling like one? See All 14 Photos Pictured: Sam Du Chang: There was an interesting analytics situation back in '99 in going to Japan and why it was so hard to get JDM cars on the cover. They were generally subtle and not flashy like what was needed to sell on the newsstand. We had to, like, battle with the powers that be on a different floor about it. We were always featuring these flashy show cars and things like that. But we were struggling with circulation against Sport Compact Car and Turbo. I was looking at the covers that did the best for them, and they were always JDM cars—more of the drag cars, like a Signal [Auto] or Top Secret car. One of those tuners. I brought that up to the heads and said we wanted to do some of those Japanese cars because they're doing really big numbers on the covers, and there was so much pushback. That was because, at the beginning, it was all about getting cars on the cover people could own, drive, and build. These were, all of a sudden, shiny halo cars nobody could ever build or drive back in the day. So, we started putting these on the cover, and they just knocked it out of the park. Now people are building these things like crazy, which is nuts. See All 14 Photos From Chang's February 2002 story about Signal Auto president Kousuke Kida's Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R daily driver Chang: To [be declared] a good cover back then, you would sell, like, three of every 10 issues on the newsstand. That was a really good month. But these JDM cars wound up selling through 60 or 70 percent. And at that point, the people at the top were just like, 'You guys do whatever you want. Clearly, this is working. Just go for it.' There was just not as much pushback on JDM cars [after that]. Lee: So, you gave the people what they wanted? Chang: You couldn't get Japanese things as easily as you can nowadays. People were still buying videotapes of drift cars and drift competitions. They were hungry for these cars they saw in the videos, and for anything more they could get. Lee: What would you say marked the peak of each of your careers at Super Street? Chang: Should I go first because I'm the oldest? For me, I think it's when we did the drift issue [in June 2000]. Drifting had been around, but I don't think it was as published in a magazine before. We did an issue dedicated to drifting, and that was a hard-fought magazine to put together. Not only because of the difficulty of the material, but it was such a push. Hot Rod was the big magazine [in the company's aftermarket division]. Trying to pitch this concept of drifting nobody at the company had ever heard of—to do a whole issue on it—and put a 240SX on the cover was very taboo. There was almost a mandate at that point that we had to put either a Honda or Toyota on the cover because those were what everyone owned. We hardly ever put a Mazda on there because people didn't own them. Putting a Nissan on there like that was a big fight. See All 14 Photos From Chang's June 2000 story about drifting a 1989 Nissan 240SX and 1989 Honda Civic Chang: But then, when that magazine did really well on the newsstand, that bought a lot of political capital for me. A good life lesson is: Budgets are only suggestions if you come back with the goods. Wong: I came in at a weirder time than [Chang] financially because of the 2007, 2008 recession, where the budget was being cut. Magazine newsstand sales weren't doing so hot around 2010. But because of what [Chang] had set forward for us, we still had the freedom to do whatever I wanted. So, I took advantage of that. I felt like I could have tapped out earlier, but the social media thing held me in a little bit longer. I was curious to see how much further I could go. I was actually ready to try to take on an editorial director position and have Du come in to replace me. But the company went ahead and just cut me anyway to make the job easier, so to speak. Du: Yeah, and I was gonna add in: Our peak was where we had the magazine, but we were really strong on social, and we were really getting good at video. We kept trying to pitch video and do more with that but never got that chance. But I felt always the peak of Super Street was when I was in high school, which was like late '90s, early 2000s. That's how I picked up the magazine. I was the guy who became a reader who became a freelancer. Then I was editor for Eurotuner eventually. I always wanted to be at Super Street. See All 14 Photos Pictured: Sam Du Du: Magazines never recovered after that recession, but the peak of Super Street was, for sure, when it introduced the whole JDM scene. It also was, I felt, the best at reporting on the import scene and culture as a whole compared to all the other magazines. It was more engaging and approachable, where you could see your friends' and readers' rides and event coverage. You could go to a show in Seattle (where I'm from), and I'd see my friend's car there. We all bought that magazine because our friends were in it. Wong: For as long as I worked there, even with [Chang], the attitude we always tried to have was never talk down on the audience. Just be the reader. Be at the same level. I never took that for granted. I always wanted the reader to feel appreciated and special. We would, to Du's point, feature cars or write little funny lines and inside jokes—things so people could feel like they were part of our family even though they were just the reader. Chang: Yeah, the community they built was really the community that was behind Super Street. I think that's why it did so well on Instagram. The photography was awesome by that point; there was so much young talent. It's so interesting to hear [Wong] and [Du] talk about the struggle, because from afar, I thought they were killing it with the 'Gram. There's that link between culture and community and why I think the brand has outlasted all the other competitors. It was built in a community; that brand identity has always been there and continues to be. See All 14 Photos Pictured: The Super Street crew during Chang's time Du: Toward the end, it was shrinking and shrinking, and we were barely getting it put together month after month. But yeah, I think to this day—for the people who weren't just casual enthusiasts or Fast & Furious fans, people that actually got into cars—everyone remembers and loves Super Street. Lee: What would you say caused the decline of the magazine? Would you say it was lack of readership, or was it just another victim of contractions in the media industry? Du: Like Wong said, once recession hit, magazines never clawed back. We put all our eggs in the website [basket], and then Wong started Instagram and Facebook, where we succeeded. There was a point where we wanted to invest in YouTube and video, and we didn't get that support, so it was a mix of media changing but also not getting the support to evolve. What do you guys think? Wong: Yeah. Chang: That time you're talking about, 2008, 2009, 2010: That when the car companies were struggling. They were advertisers, right? And those big wholesalers, I think they were losing money. There was this old saying when I was there that, even as big as Super Street was, I think Hot Rod was still making, like, 20 times the amount of ad revenue. And if Hot Rod coughs, then everybody [in the aftermarket division] gets a cold. So, if the bigger magazines were not doing well, then the smaller magazines would feel the pain. I don't know if it was exactly a product of Super Street not doing well or the fanbase disappearing, but maybe just the overall landscape. See All 14 Photos Pictured: Sam Du Du: I remember times when our numbers were good, our ads were good, but we were still getting cuts because of companywide things happening. Chang: I have a different hot take. Not about why it failed, because I think that era is over, but there's probably room for something else. Magazines hold a different place now for people. It probably depends on what age group you're in, but people are still putting out new magazines, they're just more limited-run and there may be more appeal to a specific community. It's not this mass-newsstand thing. I definitely think there's an audience for the type of content the Super Street brand can create, but it's just a different style of magazine. Maybe it's a glossy, maybe it's a more limited-run-type of keepsake magazine. Lee: Looking back now, what's the Super Street legacy mean to you? Du: I'll just repeat that Super Street was probably the best, best time of my life. For 10 years, I got to travel. We would save up our budget so we could go to every show we wanted, every event. Or go shoot a cover car. It was like living out our dreams while also building the car scene and culture. It was one of the best rides of our lives. See All 14 Photos Pictured: Jonathan Wong Wong: For me personally, it changed my life. When I first started, I was super young and very much trapped in my own bubble in Southern California. I hadn't left the state. They sent me to these weird places, on my own, for the very first trips. That's where I started to grow as a human being, like you meet people from all walks of life. But modifying cars is what brought us all together. I'm super appreciative of Matt Pearson taking me on, taking a chance on me. And I'm forever grateful to the people the read and supported us and still support us to this day. Chang: There's one lesson Matt Pearson taught me that I carry to this day. He was like, 'Rich, there's no real world. You know the things we're doing? In a real world, you wouldn't think these are things you can or should do.' Now that's my approach to life. [Don't] think you can't or aren't supposed to do something, because there's no real world where you can't. But from the outside? Just seeing how the brand has grown. The fact that it's 2025 and I'm still talking about it blows me away. It was a couple years of my life in the late '90s or early 2000, and people are still talking about it. People are still talking about drifting. That's pretty amazing. Lee: Did you guys think it would become such a big cultural phenomenon when you worked there? Did you expect it to become as big as it did? Chang: I definitely didn't. Du: I wanted to be a magazine editor. It was my dream, and it was when Super Street was at its peak. It was cool for me to aspire to the things Johnny [Wong] and everyone were doing in the magazine but then eventually be able to work there. Wong: Maybe not by what today's standards are, but I knew. There was that point of time where Fast & Furious came along, when John [Naderi] was leading the book—that was truly like a time where they were letting us do whatever. The budgets were crazy. We had 300-page-count magazines. That was unheard of. That was when I knew it was big. All photos courtesy of Richard Chang, Jonathan Wong, and Sam Du.
Business Insider
06-05-2025
- Business Insider
Multimodal AI makes this robot vacuum cleaner smart enough to pick up your socks
As long ago as 1962, The Jetsons imagined the vacuum cleaner as more than a simple appliance. Rosie was a friendly, helpful, and intelligent presence in the household, helping the family tidy up after themselves. That vision is no longer some far-flung fantasy of the future. It's real and ready for mass production thanks to a specific development in AI. This May, Roborock is launching Saros Z70, the world's first mass-produced robot vacuum cleaner with an OmniGrip intelligent, foldable robotic arm that can pick up your socks and put them back where they need to be. What makes this possible is "multimodal AI" — an intelligence capable of making sense of data from multiple modalities, such as infrared cameras and sensors. Instead of relying on a single input such as a laser, it learns from a fusion of information from all sorts of data points. In the case of the Saros Z70, it uses 3D point cloud data (similar to what's used for facial recognition) to see and measure the depth between objects in your home. It then continuously updates its map of every room in real time so the device can rapidly adapt to new furniture layouts and obstacles. But as astonishing as this technology is, it didn't come from nowhere. The first big shift in this type of AI was when Roborock applied its StarSight Autonomous System, which is a navigation and obstacle avoidance system, so that robot vacuums could use a laser to navigate around the house. This next iteration of that system uses a sampling frequency that's 21 times higher than traditional LDS solutions, scanning 21,600 sensor points to identify objects as small as two square centimeters, so it can not just vacuum but actively organize your home for you. The result is that if it comes across a piece of crumpled paper on your floor, it's intelligent enough to know it needs to be treated differently than a sock. At the heart of this massive leap forward is a multimodal AI that's designed to ensure this generation of robot vacuum will continue to become even smarter, safer and friendlier than it already is. "The Saros Z70 can help users grasp the future with intelligence," said Richard Chang, founder and CEO, Roborock. "It can be a user's home helper, companion, and assistant — whatever it needs to be." The magic of AI powered by multimodal perception Robotic arms are already widely used in all sorts of industrial settings. But for a robot vacuum to operate a 5-axis robotic arm in a home, it needs to be intelligent enough to navigate not just all your furniture but also whatever surprises your kids and pets might throw its way. That takes multimodal perception - an ability to see the home in a multitude of different ways and the intelligence to make sense of all that data. The Saros Z70 accomplishes this by combining 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors and visual recognition to create a real-time 3D map of everything around it so it can detect objects, recognize spatial relationships between them, and intelligently adapt. It uses RGB and infrared cameras in the arm and on its chassis to perceive depth more accurately than previous LIDAR systems. The lateral wall sensor extends the field of vision made possible by a single-point laser to eliminate blind spots so the vacuum can keep cleaning even when it needs to move alongside something like a cable on the floor. And its AI uses a range of sensors to make sure the foldable arm is only used in the safest possible ways. For instance, it can clean areas that were previously obstructed and lift socks, small towels, tissue papers, and sandals. But its sensors also prevent potential issues. The weight sensor in the arm prevents its gentle grip from lifting anything heavier than 300 grams, the anti-pinch and pressure sensors make sure you can interact with the arm safely, and the upward spatial sensor keeps the arm from unfurling if a child, cat, or coffee table is 45 cm above it. The combination of all these different data sources ensures the device can dynamically react to the specific objects and obstacles in any given home. It needs multimodal AI to align and fuse all these different inputs into a unified view of reality that is greater than the sum of its parts. Each one of these high-definition sensors provides valuable context, but it's the AI in the middle that can turn all that data into the intelligence needed to safely clean a home that's constantly changing with kids and pets running around. A friendly robot that grows smarter all the time Remarkably, all those sensors and cameras are packed into the thinnest Roborock yet, a mere 7.98 cm (3.14 inches) tall. So it's smart enough to tell the difference between a cat and a lost slipper, but it's also thin enough to clean under the sofa. The upshot of all this intelligence is a robot vacuum that's capable of learning your habits automatically so it knows when to pick something up, where to put it and whether it needs to use suction or mopping for optimal results on all the different routes it takes. The device can also be voice-activated and used to keep an eye on your pets, using its cameras to find them wherever they are in the house and even send you pictures. It's a truly friendly assistant that is constantly becoming more intelligent the more it gets to know you. It adapts to your home layouts when they change, reacts to objects when they're out of place and is continuously updated over-the-air to detect new objects. It already knows, for instance, not to pick up a pair of scissors while being smart enough to put a crumpled piece of paper in the bin. All of which means that the vision of the multi-tasking robot tending to your home is no longer just a vision. There's already a friendly AI-powered robot you can talk to while it puts your socks away and it's called the Saros Z70.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roborock Unveils Groundbreaking Saros Series in Australia
Featuring World-First Robotic Arm Technology and Smarter, Slimmer Cleaning for Aussie Homes SYDNEY, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Roborock, a global leader in ultra-intelligent home robotics, today announced the arrival of its revolutionary Saros Series in Australia, featuring three cutting-edge models designed to set a new benchmark in home cleaning: the flagship Saros 10, the Saros 10R, and the robotic-arm-powered Saros Z70. The Saros Series debuts as Roborock's most advanced cleaning lineup yet –combining AI-driven navigation, ultra-powerful suction, and first-of-its-kind robotic arm technology – to offer Australians smarter, more precise, and more efficient cleaning solutions tailored for modern living. "We've spent the past 11 years listening to our customers – what they love, what slows them down, and what they wish their smart home helper could do better," said Richard Chang, Founder & CEO of Roborock. "The Saros Series is the result of that feedback. From robots getting stuck under couches to mops dragging dampness across carpets, we've addressed it all. Whether it's the Saros Z70 picking up small items off the floor, the Saros 10 gliding under low-clearance furniture, or the Saros 10R navigating cluttered spaces with AI smarts, each model is built to remove friction from your daily routine." Roborock Saros Z70: The World's First Robotic Home Assistant with OmniGripHeadlining the series is the Saros Z70, the world's first* mass-produced robotic vacuum featuring OmniGrip – a five-axis robotic arm designed to lift and remove everyday obstacles like socks, towels, and even sandals under 300g**. This means no more pre-cleaning prep. The robotic arm integrates seamlessly with StarSight™ Autonomous System 2.0, an AI-powered navigation platform that recognizes up to 108 different obstacles and intelligently charts its cleaning path with a 21x higher sampling frequency than traditional LDS systems. With 22,000 Pa suction power, Dual Spinning Mops, and VertiBeam™ Lateral Obstacle Avoidance, the Saros Z70 offers an unrivaled deep clean with a robot vacuum body height at 7.98cm – while also packing pet-friendly features like live video monitoring and pet zone detection. Roborock Saros 10: Slim, Smart, and Seriously PowerfulAt just 7.98cm thin, the Saros 10 is engineered to glide under furniture with ease—delivering a powerful clean without compromise. It debuts RetractSense™ Navigation, featuring a retractable LDS module and 100-degree Wide-Angle Vision for unparalleled spatial awareness. Coupled with Reactive AI 3.0, VertiBeam™, and a 22,000 Pa HyperForce® suction system, the Saros 10 sets a new standard for ultra-thin vacuums. The Saros 10 also introduces VibraRise™ 4.0 mopping technology with an auto mop removal function. The mopping system is enhanced with dual sonic vibration zones and 8N of downward pressure, to tackle even the toughest stains. Its RockDock® Ultra 2.0 supports 80°C hot water mop washing, 60°C hot air mop drying, and 2.5-hour fast charging, delivering a hands-free and hygienic cleaning experience. Roborock Saros 10R: AI-Powered Intelligence in a Slim ProfileThe Saros 10R delivers flagship performance in Roborock's slimmest robot body to date. Replacing the traditional LDS module with StarSight™ Autonomous System 2.0, the Saros 10R boasts real-time mapping via AI-powered dual-light 3DToF and RGB cameras. It recognises up to 108 different obstacles and maneuvers around obstacles along its way – making it ideal for households with kids, pets, and cluttered spaces. With 19,000 Pa suction power, dual spinning mops, and a certified dual anti-tangle system, the Saros 10R is both powerful and low-maintenance. Its Multifunctional Dock 4.0 brings hot water mop washing, auto mop removal, smart charging, and full-fledge of self-maintenance features into the mix. Built for Australian HomesSaros Series models are compatible with the Roborock SmartPlan® 2.0 via the Roborock App, enabling AI-driven customisation of cleaning settings, schedules, and routines. While also featuring smart home support, compatible with Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Watch and the Matter protocol in the future. Pricing and Availability The Roborock Saros Series – comprising the Saros Z70, Saros 10, and Saros 10R - will be available in Australia from today at leading Australian retailers across Roborock Australia's official retail channels, such as Roborock's Official Online Store and other Participating Authorised Retailers. Roborock Saros Z70 – RRP: $3,999 AUD, available to pre-order now on Roborock's Official Online Store. Roborock Saros 10 – RRP: $2,999 AUD, available now. Roborock Saros 10R – RRP: $2,899 AUD, available from May 2025. ENDS About Roborock Roborock is a leading smart cleaning brand renowned for its intelligent cleaning solutions. With a steadfast dedication to becoming a global leading smart appliance player, Roborock enriches lives with its innovative line of robotic, cordless, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, and washer-dryers. Rooted in a user-centric approach, our R&D-driven solutions cater to diverse cleaning needs in over 15 million homes across 170+ countries. Headquartered in Beijing and with strategic subsidiaries in key markets, including the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and South Korea, Roborock is dedicated to elevating its market presence worldwide. For more information, visit *Roborock was the first in the robotic vacuum industry to mass-produce this technology, launching it in January 2025.**Based on internal testing carried out by the manufacturer. Actual results may vary due to environmental factors and software updates. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Roborock
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Disney tweaks DEI programs to focus on business outcomes, memo says
Disney tweaks DEI programs to focus on business outcomes, memo says Show Caption Hide Caption Big U.S. companies taper or abandon diversity pledges Some of the biggest companies in the U.S. from Walmart to Meta Platforms have rolled back their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, known as DEI. Walt Disney DIS.N is changing its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs to focus more closely on business outcomes, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The media giant joins several of the largest businesses in the U.S. responding to the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives. Disney's 2024 annual report, published in September, removed mentions of its "Reimagine Tomorrow" program, an online space for "amplifying underrepresented voices" that featured some of Disney's diversity, equality and inclusion commitments and actions. The memo from Disney's chief human resources officer, Sonia Coleman, notes the "Reimagine Tomorrow" site will be rebranded as "MyDisneyToday." It will focus on how well the company attracts top talent, champions a culture where everyone belongs, creates and supports underserved communities. "We create entertainment that appeals to a global audience," wrote Coleman. "And having a workforce that reflects the consumers we serve helps drive our business." DEI rollback: Starbucks sued by Missouri over DEI, race and gender bias The criteria used to evaluate executive compensation also will change, Coleman wrote, to add a factor called "talent strategy," which evaluates how well leaders advance Disney's values. It replaces the objective of increasing the diversity and inclusion of executives and managers to "reflect the guests and audiences." Disney's executive compensation is weighted 70% on achieving financial performance targets, and 30% against other performance factors, according to its most recent proxy filing. Axios was the first to report details of the memo. Disney has come under attack from conservatives who object to casting racially diverse and gay characters in its movies. America First Legal, founded by U.S. President Donald Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, sent Disney's board of directors a letter asserting that Disney's efforts to boost diversity and inclusion had harmed the company's stock. The company also became embroiled in a bitter feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over a state law limiting classroom discussion of sexuality and gender, which critics brand as the "Don't Say Gay" law. AMZN.O removed a reference to "inclusion and diversity" in its annual report filed last week, after it told employees in a December memo that it was winding down its programs as part of corporate America's broader retreat from such policies. Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona, Richard Chang, Marguerita Choy and Richard Chang
