Beauty Industry

John Demsey Apologizes on Instagram

The latest update on John Demsey, executive group president of the Estée Lauder Companies—and the offensive meme.

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By: Marie Redding

Senior Editor


Here’s the latest update on the John-Demsey-Instagram saga—an apology was posted to IG.

The Estee Lauder Companies suspended its group president, Demsey, over a Big Bird meme. Insider describes the now-deleted meme. 

The post via @jdemsey on Instagram is shown above and embedded below. 

Part of it reads:

“Not only did I hurt many people whom I respect, the terrible mistake that I made undermined everything I have been working for since I began my career 31 years ago. The meme is the furthest thing from what I stand for and I should have never reposted it.”

Demsey is responsible for making MAC Cosmetics synonymous with the Viva Glam AIDS Fund, which Demsey recently spoke to Harper’s Bazaar about—and has championed diversity and inclusion throughout his career. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by John Demsey (@jdemsey)

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