Vice Media Pulls The Plug On Town Hall After Employees Troll

The backlash followed the company's announcement of mass layoffs and the shutdown of its trailblazing news site, adding another chapter to the challenges facing digital media outlets.

In a modern twist on employee discontent, Vice Media executives faced a digital revolt during a town hall meeting as a cascade of dislike emojis flooded the virtual platform, according to Fortune. The backlash followed the company’s announcement of mass layoffs and the shutdown of its trailblazing news site, adding another chapter to the challenges facing digital media outlets.

Last week, Vice Media revealed plans to lay off hundreds of employees and shutter its website while initiating the sale of Refinery29. A year after filing for bankruptcy, Vice CEO Bruce Dixon framed the decision as the “best path forward” to position the company for long-term success. The move generated unrest among employees already grappling with industrywide challenges.

@bobbymang666
Vice Media CCO Corey Haik wss girved to cut her layoff meeting short due to an onslaught of thumbs down emojis from employees #vice #vicemedia #vicemediagroup #layoffs #medianews #firing #failure #loser
♬ original sound – Bobbymang666

During the town hall, COO Cory Haik acknowledged the “very, very, very difficult time in the macro landscape.” However, her statements were met with a steady flow of dislike emojis, capturing the palpable dissatisfaction of Vice’s digital media workforce. In a video recording, Dixon abruptly concluded the meeting, acknowledging the overwhelmingly negative response. He stated, “It’s impossible to ignore the emojis, from my side,” while expressing the intention to share information with those interested in a more traditional manner. Despite his efforts to regain control of the situation, the town hall ended with another surge of emojis.

The incident reflects a broader trend in the digital media landscape, where virtual town halls and layoffs have become more commonplace, especially with the increased prevalence of remote work during the pandemic. Similar leaked videos showcasing tense post-layoff town halls have emerged across various companies, highlighting growing discontent within the industry.

https://www.tiktok.com/@evystadium/video/7340699734891449606?embed_source=71929435%2C121374463%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_masking&refer=embed&referer_url=fortune.com%2F2024%2F02%2F29%2Fvice-town-hall-layoffs-thumbs-down-disapproval-emojis%2F&referer_video_id=7340699734891449606

In the days leading up to the layoffs, Vice employees experienced a period of uncertainty, waiting for news about their professional fate. Former employee Evy Kwong shared her ordeal on TikTok, detailing a two-day wait for an email that ultimately misspelled her name. Describing the town hall, Kwong mentioned the constant flood of dislike emojis, likening it to a “constant ‘boo’ track” that visibly rattled the executives.

Alongside Vice, other outlets, such as Buzzfeed News and the Messenger, have faced closures, while Business Insider announced layoffs. January alone witnessed over 800 media job cuts, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas data.