Inclusive Screen Weekly: A Twitter user is bullying companies into dropping DEI Initiatives. And it’s working 😔.

Also included: Ted Lasso Comeback | Not Very Demure Trademark Fight | A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Review

Sep 01, 2024

Welcome to The Inclusive Screen! In this weekly newsletter, I share TV recommendations and pop culture news showcasing diverse perspectives and representation. I also post longer, data-driven analyses of TV trends every so often!

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Spotlight of the Week

A Twitter user is bullying companies into dropping DEI Initiatives. And it’s working 😔.

This week, Ford became the latest company to scale back DEI efforts after right-wing bully Robby Starbuck targeted them on Twitter (X) [CNN].

They are the fifth company to drop DEI initiatives after Tractor Supply, John Deere, Harley Davidson, and Jack Daniels in direct reaction to Starbuck's online attacks.

His tactics are simple: He targets companies with large conservative client bases [USA Today]. Unfortunately, it’s working. Even if some of the changes are just cosmetic, the companies still publicly give in to the bullying.

The saddest part is that those companies need DEI initiatives the most. Imagine being an LGBTQ+ or Black person working in the farming industry. It’s probably not easy… Companies dropping their support in response to far-right bullying is an incredibly dangerous message. It will encourage hate and embolden racist and homophobic groups to be even more openly aggressive toward minorities.

It’s sad that none of the targeted companies felt they could stand their ground and tell Robby to respectfully go to hell. Since companies seem to love AI lately, here are some AI-generated suggestions to tell him off next time:

"Your input is invaluable! We’ll be sure to consider it during our next ‘How to Ignore Trolls’ workshop."
"It’s always interesting to hear from those who prefer to critique rather than contribute. Thank you for your perspective!"
"Our commitment to diversity is as strong as your commitment to being on the wrong side of history."
"Your opinion has been noted and will be given all the consideration it deserves."
"We're thrilled you've taken time from your busy schedule of complaining online to share your thoughts on diversity."
"Wow, what an original take! We'll add it to our collection of 'Hot Takes from Cold Hearts.'"
"We're always eager to hear from our critics. It reminds us why we started these initiatives in the first place."

And with a southern flair if needed:

"Well, bless your heart! Someone’s got strong opinions about things they don’t quite understand."

PS: Claude.ai is pretty good at this! Other AIs, not so much.

10 Stories That Caught My Attention

Ted Lasso might be returning for a 4th season [Forbes]. Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Walton), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), and Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins) have already agreed to come back. Other cast members are in discussion with the producers, and I love how the article points out that Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) would have to move to a foreign country with young children, which is not an easy decision. Ted Lasso is my all-time favorite show, so I’m all in for season 4. But if it doesn’t happen, we’ll always have Chad Powers with Glenn Powell [Screenrant].

We need to talk about layoff influencers [Bloomberg]. As someone who works in tech, my world has been full of layoff talks and constant reorgs for the past two years. And what happens when you suddenly have a bunch of tech-savvy people impacted by layoffs? A lot of LinkedIn posts, of course! No matter how cringe it can be, I see the wave of people sharing their layoff experience as positive overall. It’s about time people stop feeling shameful and alone for being fired for no fault of their own.

Drew Barrymore will try to respect her guests’ personal space in the new season of her show [The Hollywood Reporter]. We all know someone who gets way too deep into our personal bubble when chatting (or maybe you are that person). I always thought the concept of personal space was a super interesting topic. It's like an invisible wall around us, different for everyone, and that can make conversations feel so uncomfortable. Drew Barrymore is definitely at the “extreme closeness” end of the spectrum, and I get uncomfortable just watching her sometimes.

Someone filed a trademark request for the phrase “very demure, very mindful”. No, it was not Jools Lebron [Wired]. It’s crazy to me that any random person can file a trademark request for a viral phrase they did not create. I understand that Lebron likely has a strong case to dispute the request and get the trademark under her name. But still… The audacity of some people!

Thank God some companies are fighting for diversity and representation [Deadline] [Wall Street Journal]. I have two stories to counter the depressing spotlight of the week. In the first story, the BBC addressed concerns raised about the gay kiss featured in Doctor Who, deeming it appropriate for young audiences. The second story covers how book publishers are suing Florida, arguing that the book bans violate the First Amendment. After the slew of far-right suits against DEI initiatives, it’s nice to see companies fight back

Chappell Roan is overwhelmed by her sudden fame and asks fans to respect her privacy [The Cut]. Do I think her TikTok videos are the best piece of communication I’ve seen from a celebrity? Nope. Do I understand where she is coming from? Yes, absolutely. Anyone would feel overwhelmed in her situation, and I hope she can take a break and find a way through fame that does not destroy her mental health. I also loved that Julien Solomita (Youtuber and Jenna Marble’s husband) posted in own story in defense of Chappell on Instagram.

Are Romantasy books the future of Hollywood franchises [Bloomberg]? It’s definitely an interesting trend in literary fiction, where romantacy took 25% of the bestseller spots in 2024. With fantasy movies and shows still primarily catered to a male audience, it would be nice to see a wave of new female-centric stories. I started to read Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing after Prime Video announced a TV show adaptation, and I’m pleasantly surprised with the quality of the characters and the queer representation.

Venezuelan journalists are using AI avatars to report on the increasingly authoritarian political regime [The Guardian]. There’s so much well-deserved hate about AI in creative communities. I thought this was a great example of a positive use of AI. I’m all for it if it can help keep journalists safe and allow them to continue sharing valuable information with the population.

Elle made Billie Eilish prank call Margot Robbie, and it was the most wholesome thing ever [Elle Magazine on Youtube]. I have never related to a celebrity more than to Billie Eilish, praying Margot doesn’t answer the phone, profusely apologizing for the prank, and saying “I don’t even know Margot like that”. And, of course, Margot Robbie is an absolute sweetheart.

Ad of the week: Monday.com’s orca process planning ad [Watch the ad]. I feel like Monday.com has been stalking me on social media for years now, and I’m aware it’s about to get a lot worse now that I’ve not only watched their ad but also researched it. But this ad was fun and almost made me want to use their product. Almost…

What I’ve Been Watching

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

My Rating: 75/100 - Not the best show ever but a fun watch

1 sentence synopsis: A stubborn girl decides to play detective and investigate an old case by constantly putting herself in danger.

Diverse representation:

Overall, the show gets it right!

Ravi and his brother Sal are Indian and racism is an important part of the plot without it feeling preachy. I like how the show uses Ravi to point out prejudice through his experience. Like when he choose to not break into the house with Pip because “a brown guy breaking into a house isn’t a good look”.

Pip’s biological dad died when she was young, and she was raised by a Black man that she essentially considers her dad. The dad’s skin color is never really commented on in the show. It is just Pip’s reality, and that’s awesome.

Finally, the queer representation is absolutely top-notch.

We find out Cara is queer when she mentions her crush, who happens to be a girl. No one acts surprised and it’s treated exactly the same way as if she had a crush on a guy. Cara also has a very close and affectionate platonic friendship with Pip, and no one is worried that she might fall in love with her. With the trope of queer people being secretly in love with their best friends, it’s pretty rare to have a healthy representation like this.

There’s also a non-binary character who saves Pip from assault at a party. We only find out they are non-binary when someone uses the pronouns to refer to them toward the end of the show. Again, it’s not made into a big part of their identity. They are just a great person.

Favorite character(s):

Ravi: He’s a positive and nerdy guy who’s always up to help Pip with her crazy ideas. And thank god he’s there to constantly save her from her own recklessness.
Cara: She’s Pip’s queer best friend who is completely kept out of the investigation but somehow still manages to save Pip from bad situations. She’s super comfortable with her queerness but doesn’t seem to make it a huge part of her identity, which is a nice change from usual out and proud characters. I wish she was given more screen time.

Least favorite character(s):

Pip: If you hadn’t guessed yet, I’m not a fan of Pip’s character. She so stubborn to investigate that she often ignores everyone around her and jumps into danger with absolutely no common sense whatsoever. I did appreciate how they portrayed her reaction after the incident at the party (trying not to give spoilers).

My Top 10 Favorite New Shows of 2024 (So Far):

I’m tracking all new shows on streaming this year and rating the ones I’ve seen. I like top 10s, so I thought I’d include this as a fun thing to update every week.

Fallout - Score: 96
Dead Boy Detectives - Score: 92
Under the Bridge - Score: 91
Baby Reindeer - Score: 90
3 Body Problem - Score: 89
The Brothers Sun - Score: 88
Death and Other Details - Score: 85
One Day - Score: 85
The Girls on the Bus - Score: 82
Palm Royale - Score: 82

Freshly Out On Streaming

[Hulu] After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun. I liked the Pamela Anderson documentary last year, so I’m interested in seeing this one too.
[Netflix] Kaos. I’m curious to see how they execute the concept of a modern take on Greek mythology.
[Hulu] Killer Lies: Chasing a True Crime Con Man. A documentary about a French “serial killer expert” who is actually a fraud.
[Apple TV+] K-Pop Idols. I’m not a K-Pop fan, but I find the fandom intriguing, so a documentary on it sounds perfect.
[Hulu] Only Murders in the Building (Season 4). I already watched the first episode, and I’m hooked. The humor and the characters in this show just speak to me on another level.

I’m done rambling. Now it’s your turn!

Do you have other comeback suggestions for companies getting attacked by far-right trolls?
Any fans of Ted Lasso out there? Do you want a season 4?
What do you think of Chappell Roan’s request to be left alone?
Have you watched A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder? What did you think of Pip?