In January 2022, Jennifer Sey was pushed out of her job as Levi’s global brand president because she advocated for opening public school playgrounds and unmasking toddlers. Woke employees complained, and despite 23 years of loyal service, Levi’s CEO Chip Bergh told her there wasn’t a place for her at the company. Here, Sey reflects on the scandal.
It’s been a year since my story of my cancellation went viral, and I think I know why: hypocrisy.
Levi’s is known as an all-American brand rooted in rugged individualism. A successful ad campaign that I created as the chief marketing officer exhorted our fans to “use their voices.” The idea that I could not use mine in defense of children conflicted with all the brand claimed to stand for.
