MovieChat Forums > Black Mirror (2011) Discussion > "Shut up and dance" racist CEO

"Shut up and dance" racist CEO

posted 8 years ago by Movie_Guy79
15 replies | jump to latest

Assuming she sent something actually racist, as opposed to some manufactured outrage kind of deal...so what? That isn't illegal?

If she was worried about the the negative impact on her business, all she had to do was give a fake apology like everyone else does, or wait until the internet got distracted by the next Harambe or some kid's Halloween costume (and there will always be something else to distract the internet trolls).

Absolute worse case scenario? She cashes in her stock and retires on some island?

For that matter, the guy who made arrangements to cheat on his wife had little to worry about either. He didn't actually do it, and if the merely "considering" it was such a big deal for his wife, he had plausible deniability (text screen caps can be easily faked).

[–] MultiSanity 8 years ago

I imagine to make the racist CEO scenario work, the woman was a CEO of a humanitarian company or something that may have dealt exclusively with POC, as well as minorities being an integral part of her personal life. So issuing a simple apology wouldn't be able to ease the tension and wariness her racist emails would have caused.

As for the cheating bloke, kind of hard to fake a picture of your nether regions?which he said he had taken pictures of and sent. I'd also wager he said phrases and such to the escort he's used previously to woe and seduce his own wife. Honestly though, he should have just come forward, although most likely he's exhibited this type of behavior before and this was the last straw.

[–] laurendorward-990-190608 8 years ago

No one is saying what they did was illegal. It's not about that it's about morality.
Being in the public eye makes you a target for any paps wanting a story. She was racist and she got caught.
The guy cheating on his wife deserved it because the intention was there and he'd been sexual explicit with her online. The wife had a right to know..
Their comeuppance really wasn't that harsh as their moral crimes werent as bad as the pedo's.
It's all about how society looks at people and what they do. especially online.

[–] Movie_Guy79 8 years ago

. So issuing a simple apology wouldn't be able to ease the tension and wariness her racist emails would have caused

Being in the public eye makes you a target for any paps wanting a story. She was racist and she got caught.

So what if some internet trolls are still mad? Assuming she didn't fight fire with fire by identifying as black, screaming misogyny, or just playing dumb - All she had to do was wait a few days. Case in point - The guy who legally killed Cecil the Lion got death threats for 3 days until a photo of a hitchhiking robot started trending. Now, no one even remembers his name, or what a "Cecil" is, let alone cares.

most likely he's exhibited this type of behavior before and this was the last straw

Excellent point, although if that was the case the guy should have just come left his wife already (since he was clearly unhappy).

The guy cheating on his wife deserved it because the intention was there and he'd been sexual explicit with her online

Thinking about cheating isn't cheating. No way I'd rob a bank to hide it. I'd tell the trolls to fvck off, report my phone hacked, and not give a second thought.

[–] Mehki_Girl 8 years ago

Right because you'd be okay with your lover thinking about cheating on you. Sure you would.

[–] laurendorward-990-190608 8 years ago

Quite. If I found out my partner had been messaging prostitutes and sending her dick pics I'd lose it with him.
It's still cheating.

[–] ricardobender 8 years ago

Also, the hackers didn't ask the CEO to do something like robbing a bank or fighting with someone until death. All she had to do was to leave a car with the keys on the tires. I think she was "OK" with that.

[–] olgumila 8 years ago

Basically, each hacking victim had a task suited to the gravity of the thing that could be leaked about them. You would rather loose your car than be seen as a racist, but I guess you would not rob a bank instead. Then again you would rather rob a bank than have everyone know that you're a pedo. For the cheating Bronn guy: still,he was 'just the driver' so I feel he was ok with that rather than have his family fallen apart

[–] ed-davies21 8 years ago

They never specified that Kenny had to rob the bank though. It could have been Hector for all they cared. Kenny ended up doing it because he wasn't a competent driver.

[–] duffasaurus 8 years ago

Yes, but Kenny still had to fight to the death, so they were giving him the ultimate punishment regardless. But yeah I feel like Hector got way worse of a deal then he should have gotten. Also, it's super *beep* up to make people do all that and then release their info... Like we trusted you lol

[–] moustachegai 8 years ago

Her punishment/task didn't seem that extreme in comparison. I like to think the vigilante hackers are also flawed people too that royally mess up.

[–] DeftPunk79 8 years ago

I think the point was that the punishments scaled to how immoral the actions are perceived to be by the hackers. Racism and adultery are bad, but not as bad as pedophilia. That's also why I think the black guy wasn't a pedo. It was something else, or his fate would have been worse than his family calling him a perv.

[–] General_Haberdashery 8 years ago

Assuming she sent something actually racist, as opposed to some manufactured outrage kind of deal...so what? That isn't illegal?

If she was worried about the the negative impact on her business, all she had to do was give a fake apology like everyone else does.

Of course it isn't illegal but it's also not as simple as you make it out to be.
Sending out an apology may not be enough. It wasn't for these guys:

AT&T President Aaron Slator Fired For Racist Images, Texts.

Justine Sacco, PR executive fired over racist tweet.

Campbell Ewald CEO Fired After Employee's Racist Email

Governor wants Hawaii tourism CEO fired for racist e-mails

Alleged Racist Music CEO Resigns

SONY exec Amy Pascal fired over offensive emails

Revlon CEO Lorenzo Delpani Steps Down after racist comments



I mean...I don't think you realize the impact her emails could have on her career or just aren't familiar with real life CEO's who've done something similar.

She has a legal right to be a bigot...that doesn't mean it won't come with consequences regarding employment. Most employers, especially those in higher positions are held to a certain standard and code of conduct. Using her email or social media accounts in a racist manner could potentially be devastating to her career.

She would/could lose her job and become a hated figure in the media and this could cost her a lot. Especially when trying to find new work.

Hell, Nicole Crowther (an extra on Glee) was fired for tweeting a spoiler.
She received death threats as well as a tweet from the producer stating "hope you're qualified to do something besides work in entertainment."

She hasn't gotten a job in the business since.

For that matter, the guy who made arrangements to cheat on his wife had little to worry about either. He didn't actually do it

I think whether he ever did anything or not is irrelevant. She was provided with information regarding his attempts to solicit a young prostitute.

If I found out my spouse was hunting young prostitutes the marriage would be in serious jeopardy. Quite possibly over. I wouldn't trust the person and I would assume they probably did a lot more that I wouldn't know.

The doubt alone is enough to cause irreparable issues.
How could you know your spouse wouldn't try that again?

[–] Movie_Guy79 8 years ago

She has a legal right to be a bigot...that doesn't mean it won't come with consequences regarding employment. Most employers, especially those in higher positions are held to a certain standard and code of conduct. Using her email or social media accounts in a racist manner could potentially be devastating to her career.

She would/could lose her job and become a hated figure in the media and this could cost her a lot. Especially when trying to find new work

Again, even assuming she sent something truly awful, instead of some innocuous email that got someone's panties in a bunch...I'd still go the fake apology route. Or, if she knew it truly wouldn't matter, stand by it and retire with her millions. She was already in her late 50's (if not older)....I'd retire and let the internet be mad me for a few days before they move on to the next thing - all while not having to deal with the rat race.

Point being - I'd much rather face the consequences of my "don't hire any *beep* email than play some stupid trolls game, and I can't believe anyone on her position would feel differently.

She was provided with information regarding his attempts to solicit a young prostitute....

....The doubt alone is enough to cause irreparable issues.

If some random stranger emailed me out of the blue, I doubt I would read the email. If they had a click bait subject line like "pulled a train on your wife, pics attached" - I'd be even more doubtful. If by some chance I did decide to look, and all I saw was a screenshot of a text convo (easily photoshopped) or some random naked pics (even if they included her face)..I would still be doubtful.

Your last sentence really stands out though....if all it takes to ruin your marriage is a random internet stranger sending you a random screenshot and some pics, then your marriage is doomed anyway. In the show, it sounds like that guys already was - and in his position I'd tell the trolls to piss off, get a new phone/number and claimed I was hacked, and if that wasn't enough to save my marriage, it was never going to last no matter what.

[–] assumedkilla 8 years ago

Just because she's a CEO and therefore probably makes a lot of money, doesn't mean she doesn't need her job. There was a study within the last month or two that showed even wealthy people (over 250K a year in this study) don't usually have much of a savings. We don't know how big her company was, nor how much she spends/saves, so someone can make a lot of money and still be paycheck to paycheck, or close to it due to buying a big house, too many cars (or too expensive cars), kids in private school or college, and so on.

People will jump through hoops to keep their lifestyle, she'd lose her job and no one would want to hire for at least years and if they did it wouldn't be at the same level she was at before. Also, what they had her do could've been way easier than what the main character did. She also stands to alienate/lose friends, family, maybe even her spouse. Perhaps you'd roll the dice and wouldn't play the game, but there's definitely motivation there for other people.

I never saved anything for the swim back.

[–] tb-sch 8 years ago

Absolute worse case scenario? She cashes in her stock and retires on some island?

Which still looks worse than just doing the little task which is asked from her.
The failures are mainly about leverage. We don't even know the Trolls are interested in morals, all the episode tells is that they gain access to incriminating data and then threaten to use it against people to make them play their game.

He didn't actually do it, and if the merely "considering" it was such a big deal for his wife, he had plausible deniability (text screen caps can be easily faked).

He sent pictures. That should be enough to end his family.