Beetle Inc

Beetle Inc: Durban agency suspend co-founder for “highly sexist” job adverts

“Applicants must be exceptionally good looking with massive ‘lungs'” – Eish!

Beetle Inc

Now, when you’re in the business of advertising, creating a good public image should be your bread and butter. That really isn’t the case for Beetle Inc, however.

The Durban ad agency has been hammered to high heaven by social media users, as screenshots of highly inappropriate job advertisements went viral.

Beetle Inc were forced to suspend Dane Salmon. He is one of the company’s co-founders and was ultimately responsible for publishing the ad.

What adverts did Beetle Inc publish?

Two job adverts – both laden with sexist comments – were published by the company, looking to stand out from the rest of the field.  They’ve certainly achieved that goal, but have now ended up creating a disaster for their brand.

The attitude of the advert is ultimately jokey, but it still comes across as completely tone deaf. Take the first job description, for example. Asking for employees to be good looking and expose their breasts isn’t exactly finely-tuned comedy, is it?

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Don’t worry, it gets creepier. Another Facebook user found a previous ad the company had put out. Sure enough, we’ve got the co-founder asking for topless photos of applicants. This is many things, but we’re not so sure “funny” covers it:

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Yikes. Kylie Salmon was the unfortunate representative left to pick up the pieces. As Dane’s husband and co-founder of the company, she was left to profoundly apologise on behalf of the company.

In fact, Kylie was left with no choice but to suspend her spouse. Tough days don’t get much tougher than that, right?

Beetle Inc issue their apology:

“As the co-founder of Beetle Inc, I wish to take ownership of our actions – not just illustrated in our most recent offensive job advert – but for the culture that has clearly permeated into our company.”

“We understand how offensive our actions are, as well as acknowledge the concerning insensitive culture which has grown within our company.”

“This has highlighted my complicity in permitting the culture that exists within our company. I personally pledge to work towards building a better corporate culture, and an agency with integrity that enables our staff to thrive and feel as valued as they are.”

Salmon also confirmed that a “diversity expert” will be working with the company to ensure something like this never happens again. Even as industry professionals, it’s hard to imagine how they could spin their way out of this one.

Also read: Namibian business blasted for “sexist, transphobic” advert