The Death of DEI? Not So Fast – As DEI efforts meet resistance, new studies show that many brands continue pushing onward

By Christopher Heine

It may not qualify as a total reversal of attitude, but it’s awfully close. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — heralded not long ago as the core to corporate America’s future — is in retreat, as companies reduce and/or eliminate their DEI programs altogether. In late June, for example, rural lifestyle distributor Tractor Supply Company shut down its DEI initiatives after receiving backlash from some of its customers and right-wing commentators regarding the company’s inclusion policies and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Industry rival John Deere followed suit in July, saying it would no longer sponsor diversity events following similar complaints. Indeed, companies are “reassessing decades-old anti-discrimination strategies and rewriting policies that once emphasized race and gender to prioritize inclusion for all,” according to the Washington Post. Such developments stand in stark contrast to the bandied efforts among many brands to foster DEI following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, which sparked a racial reckoning throughout the country.

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Courtesy of The Association of National Advertisers