• by Ray Schultz , February 29, 2024

A virtual town hall conducted by Vice ended when employees barraged it with thumbs-down emojis in reaction to the mass layoffs at the digital media outlet, according to Oliver Darcy’s Reliable sources newsletter.  

The emojis became “too much to ignore, flooding the screen for all to see,” Darcey reportedly wrote.  

CEO Bruce Dixon said the emojis had become impossible to ignore, the report continues. 

A Vice Media spokesperson responded, “It is unfortunate that employees remaining with the organization who greatly want to contribute to its success were sabotaged by a few bad actors,” according to CNN.  

The spokesperson continued, “We understand that emotions are running high after such a significant change to the company and will continue to communicate. Our strategic vision moving forward is the right one for Vice.”

Vice announced in February that it would shut down its site and lay off hundreds of employees.  

One victim of the staggering layoffs at Vice was Jordan Pearson, the executive editor of technology coverage at the failed digital media outlet, responsible for the Motherboard technology site, TBN reports.

Pearson had also served as managing editor and a senior editor. 

In other Vice news, the Wall Street Journal reports that Essence is in talks to buy Refinery29, which reaches a young audience.