cybersecurity giant paid women - and only women - to stand at its happy hour networking event as faceless lamps

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

Palo Alto Networks execs apologize for 'hostesses' dressed as lamps at Black Hat booth

Biz admits turning human women into faceless, sexualized furniture was a 'tone deaf' marketing ploy

If you attended the Black Hat conference in Vegas last week and found yourself over in Palo Alto Networks' corner of the event, you may have encountered a marketing gimmick that has since been heavily criticized for misogyny.

Security architect Sean Juroviesky's LinkedIn post and accompanying image, which was subsequently shared by equally outraged conference delegates, attracted scores of angry cybersecurity pros all demanding answers from Palo Alto Networks (PAN).

Why? The cybersecurity giant paid women – and only women – to stand at the entrance to its happy hour networking event dressed up as illuminated human lamps. Their faces were obscured by actual lampshades.

https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/14/palo_alto_networks_execs_apologize/

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Palo Alto senior leadership issued an apology following a “marketing decision” that saw happy hour attendees at this month’s Black Hat in Las Vegas greeted by hostesses wearing branded lampshades.

The gimmick sparked backlash on social media after a photo of the incident was shared online by a LinkedIn user.

CISO and founder of the Rose CISO Group, Olivia Rose, addressed the wording in the apologies, pointing out the lack of reference to how “incredibly offensive and demeaning” the move was.

Rose also said that she had received messages from female Palo Alto staff who said they feared calling out the decision.
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An apology by CEO Nikesh Arora was posted on the cyber security firm’s website, acknowledging that the decision was “unacceptable”.

“The misguided attempt to welcome guests with branded lampshade-wearing hostesses was not consistent with our values. I appreciate you not judging us on this isolated event, and I want to reassure you of our continued commitment to and celebration of inclusion and diversity,” he said.

https://www.cyberdaily.au/security/10960-palo-alto-sparks-fury-after-objectifying-hostesses-with-lampshade-headwear

“Palo Alto should also be made aware that I have personally received multiple messages from women at the company who were too scared to speak up about this decision,” she said.

[John1956PA]

1. Objectifying women's bodies in a rarefied technological venue.

Such a caveman mentality.

[Dave Bowman]

2. WTF, are we back in the 50s?

That's totally despicable.

[lapfog_1]

3. even in the 1990s

I knew a woman ( we dated off and on ) who worked the "booth babe" ( actual title ) circuit in Las Vegas. The tech and construction and other "heavy" industries ( HVAC ) that had shows there wanted the best looking females they could get to dress up ( or down ) and just hang out at their booths, making chit-chat with any of the mostly male attendees that came their way... hand out swag and do a little "filtering" about who was interested in products and who just wanted to hit on the ladies. They would then direct the potential customers to a real employee for the hard sell, etc.

It was generally hard work as they had to stand around in high heels and ( generally ) revealing gowns or costumes or bikinis for hours and hours every day, always with a smile plastered on their face along with the make up.

But it paid well, better than working at a strip club sometimes... and the work was steady.

I really can't imagine this happening now 24 years later... and Palo Alto Networks is or was one of the better known cyber security companies. What a bone headed marketing droid move.

[cbabe]

4. Not tone deaf. The just got caught being weird haters.