PR firm Zeno Group advises corporate clients not to weigh in on Roe v. Wade, abortion rights: report
Zeno Group has worked with clients including Coca-Cola, Netflix, Starbucks, Salesforce, Hershey's, AT&T and Pizza Hut
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Public relations firm Zeno Group has reportedly advised a number of high-profile clients to avoid commenting on the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, a 1973 landmark legal ruling that protects women's rights to an abortion.
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According to an internal communication cited by Popular Information, the subsidiary of Daniel J. Edelman Holdings created a template email to share with clients, which tells them that "the media" and others "will look for corporations to take a stand and make their views known" on the document.
"Do not take a stance you cannot reverse, especially when the decision is not final. This topic is a textbook ‘50/50’ issue," the internal communication reportedly states. "Subjects that divide the country can sometimes be no-win situations for companies because regardless of what they do they will alienate at least 15 to 30 percent of their stakeholders… Do not assume that all of your employees, customers or investors share your view."
It also reportedly advises its clients to ignore direct media inquiries about Roe v. Wade and abortion rights and to avoid pitching "breaking news networks/outlets" on any topic, noting it could be used as an opportunity to ask about Roe v. Wade and abortion rights.
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Zeno Group CEO Barby Siegel told Popular Information that the internal communication "does not accurately reflect Zeno's position or the range of counsel that we are providing to clients," adding that it was "meant to advise clients within the first 24 hours of breaking news, and its intent was to counsel clients to be measured in their immediate response to a complex developing story."
"We take seriously our responsibility to help clients proactively navigate complex societal issues, consider the actions they may take and the accompanying communications, internally and externally," a Zeno Group spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement. "We know and understand that companies are increasingly expected to take a stand on major issues, and we believe it’s right to do so when it is authentic to the organization, and consistent with their values and actions."
Demonstrators protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday, May 5, 2022 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ((AP Photo/Alex Brandon) / AP Newsroom)
The firm emphasizes that it believes in "equal access to healthcare for all, and a woman’s right to make decisions about her healthcare."
"At the same time, we live in a world with different opinions and different views, and we respect those differences," the company adds.
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According to its website, Zeno Group has worked with clients including Coca-Cola, Netflix, Salesforce, Hershey's, Starbucks, Lenovo, Expedia, Yum Brands-owned Pizza Hut, Kia Motors, Astra-Zeneca, AT&T, ASICS, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Phillips Health.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KO | THE COCA-COLA CO. | 63.91 | +0.15 | +0.24% |
| NFLX | NETFLIX INC. | 897.79 | +0.31 | +0.03% |
| CRM | SALESFORCE INC. | 341.99 | +6.21 | +1.85% |
| HSY | THE HERSHEY CO. | 174.78 | -0.17 | -0.10% |
| SBUX | STARBUCKS CORP. | 102.50 | +2.44 | +2.44% |
| LNVGY | LENOVO GROUP LTD. | 23.36 | -0.35 | -1.50% |
| EXPE | EXPEDIA GROUP INC. | 184.92 | +1.41 | +0.77% |
| YUM | YUM! BRANDS INC. | 135.26 | +1.04 | +0.78% |
| AZN | ASTRAZENECA PLC | 65.63 | +1.37 | +2.13% |
| T | AT&T INC. | 23.18 | +0.20 | +0.87% |
| ASCCY | ASICS | 18.57 | +0.32 | +1.75% |
| SMG | SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO. | 77.88 | +2.06 | +2.72% |
A spokesperson for Netflix noted that the company is not currently a client of Zeno's and hasn't been for a few years. Representatives for the other companies did not immediately return FOX Business' request for comment.