Public Relations Giant Tells Clients to Keep the Abortion Issue out of Their Mouths – Opinion

A recent report suggests that RedState’s Brad Slager was on to something when he pointed out the conspicuous silence coming from Wall Street on the abortion debate. One of the world’s largest public relations firms is telling its clients to exercise their right to remain silent, after a draft Supreme Court opinion was leaked to the public indicating it might overturn Roe v. Wade. This has led to a nationwide conversation about abortion and how the federal government regulates it.

Judd Legum’s Substack publication Popular Information reported:

According to a communication received by Popular Information, Zeno is advising high-profile clients of its public relations agency to refrain from commenting on the Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe V. Wade.

Some of Zeno’s clients include Coca-Cola, Hershey’s, Netflix, Starbucks, and others.

Katie Cwayna, the company’s Executive Vice President for Media Strategy sent a template email to share with the company’s clients. It warns clients that the media “will look for corporations to take a stand and make their views known.”

Cwayna, however insists that companies close the loop on the issue. The email follows:

Avoid taking a position that you are unable to reverse. This is especially true when it’s not final. This topic is a textbook “50/50” issue. Subjects that divide the country can sometimes be no-win situations for companies because regardless of what they do they will alienate at least 15 to 30 percent of their stakeholders… Do not assume that all of your employees, customers or investors share your view.

The vice president further cautioned corporations to watch out for media “fishing” for opinions on controversial matters. “Often during controversy, media will make general inquiries to multiple peer organizations, in which the first one to “raise its hand” becomes the lead.  In a case like this, being at the center is not advisable so be judicious if/how general inquiries are managed,” the message read.

The letter continues, advising clients to avoid engaging with “direct questions about your company’s position,” and to “not respond to questions about where your company stands on this issue.”

Zeno CEO Barby Siegel responded to a request for comment from Popular Information claiming the email “does not accurately reflect Zeno’s position or the range of counsel that we are providing to clients.”

Elle continued:

This was intended to provide advice to clients in the immediate aftermath of news breaking.

Siegel also explained that the company believes in “equal access to healthcare for all, and a woman’s right to make decisions about her healthcare,” but recognizes that “we live in a world with different opinions and different views.”

It doesn’t matter what, though it is striking that an established PR agency understands how important corporations remain silent about controversial topics. Perhaps Disney could have benefitted from enlisting Zeno’s services before its leadership decided to kowtow to the woke fringe in its ranks.

Major corporations may decide to stop practicing woke corporatism following the Disney scandal. While it was useful in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, there is evidence that it can cause more harm than good. This could be the start of companies becoming more apolitical. A guy can dream, can’t he?