• by Tanya Gazdik , August 29, 2024

Ford Motor Co. is the latest company to scale back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives after boycott threats.

Robby Starbuck, a former Hollywood music-video director turned conservative activist, has pressured several high-profile companies, including Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply Co. and John Deere to abandon inclusive employment policies. 

Starbuck, who claimed that he was “in the middle of investigating woke policies” at Ford before the company “confirmed” the changes, suggested that the automotive giant will also no longer make “donations to pride events or other divisive events," according to Fortune. 

“Sanity is coming for corporate America,” Starbuck declared to more than half a million followers on X. 

He posted a memo on his X account from Ford CEO Jim Farley announcing that Ford will no longer pursue diversity goals or quotas in its hiring process, at its dealerships or when selecting suppliers, according to Bloomberg. 

“We are mindful that our employees and customers hold a wide range of beliefs, and the external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve,” Farley wrote to employees. “Likewise, while we continue to develop a dealer body that reflects the communities they serve, we will not use quotas for minority dealerships or suppliers.”

Ford also has also withdrawn from the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index.

“Harley-Davidson and Jack Daniel's owner Brown-Forman also confirmed they're no longer participating,” according to Axios. “Lowe's, which did not respond to requests seeking comment, has reportedly pulled out of the HRC index too. Once something companies openly bragged about, a perfect 100 score on the HRC index is the gold standard for companies that want to prove they're committed to LGBTQ+ causes.”

Lowe’s and Ford adopted preemptive changes before Starbuck rallied his social media followers to boycott the companies, according to USA Today. 

“Corporate America stepped up its focus on diversity initiatives after widespread protests against racial and gender disparities in leadership following the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020,” notes Reuters. “Of late, however, some companies have backtracked, altering DEI programs meant to boost racial and ethnic representation at workplaces in response to pressure from conservative legal organizations. Some firms have received public shareholder letters since 2021 saying their DEI programs constitute illegal discrimination and a breach of directors' duties to investors.”

Company spokesman Mark Truby told Headlight.News that “People are overstating” the changes Ford is making, “and missing the commitment. We have not disbanded [its] DEI office like many companies.” Headlight News included the full text of Farley's 544-word memo.