M&C Saatchi issues apology for burlesque routine at agency’s 21st Birthday Party
M&C Saatchi has issued a public apology for a burlesque routine at its 21st Birthday Party in Sydney on Thursday night.
The following is a statement sent to CB this afternoon:
In regards to the article in the Sydney Morning Herald today (23 January 2016), M&C Saatchi would like to issue a public apology.
On Thursday night, we held a party for our 21st birthday. At no time was there a ‘striptease’ performance. However, as there was a series of performances, the consideration that a burlesque routine may not have been appropriate in this context was overlooked. This has been a strong reminder to be more diligent about ensuring these sensitivities are always at the forefront.
Throughout the evening there was a diverse repertoire of acts – soul diva Deni Hines, dance duo Hip Hop boys, satirical performance artistes The Bag Ladies, drag trapeze acrobat Decoda Secret, top Sydney DJ Alex Taylor, acclaimed London DJ Norman Jay MBE and Miss Burlesque Australia 2012, Briana Bluebell.
We are devastated this has caused offence and concern around this issue. This was not our intent. M&C Saatchi has made huge efforts to champion gender diversity within the Group.
We have a diverse workforce and the professional development of all our staff, both men and women, is of paramount importance. We have four women on the leadership team, including our General Manager, and 50% of our department heads are female. Over the last year, over half our key senior hires have been female (52%) and 72% of our employee promotions were women.
In 2014, 18% of our Creative hires were female and in 2015 this increased to 30% of hires. This does not excuse the mistake we made and we have learnt a very important lesson. We hope others have too. This is a critical issue and one that M&C Saatchi will continue to promote. We are committed to doing more to further continue this important conversation.
Note from CB: To any anonymous commentators, if you want to write negative, abusive or libelous comments on this story go to you know where.
60 Comments
Hi M and C … If all those stats are correct, then what are you apologising for?
…not that an apology was needed from a creative agency that chose to showcase an edgy, current, not to mention female dominant art form in Burlesque.
Great work on the apology M&C, well played.
Makes the others defending your Behaviour in the other trade press look silly.
admission of action is progress.
Good on them for getting on the front foot and responding to the outrage quickly and sincerely.
No one who was there (apart from the Mumbrella journos) actually took offence but the story took on a life of its own so this is the only move to make to put an end to it.
We have enough real issues in this industry regarding diversity, gender, age, etc but this wasn’t one of them.
And @Hi I don’t feel at all silly defending the performances. Perhaps talk to a few more people who were there š
Sorry you had to put the tail between your legs on this one M&C. Apparently no one’s been to the Spiegeltent at the Sydney Festival over the last decade.
Christ @Hi. Get off the cross, better used as overpriced, reclaimed wood. Asshat.
What the fuck are we coming to ??? If you don’t like it beat it ! What a great night . Thank you m&c for a fantastic party. Bummer it had to end. Seriously what is the issue ??
I don’t think there is anything silly about others defending their choice of featuring a burlesque performance at their 21st birthday celebration. They are presumably apologising because they offended clients. They did nothing wrong.
Who is ever going to invite mumbrella to their party again?
How pathetic and petty .
What a public beat up of a great agency on the rise… Deeply saddened by this poor reporting. Tall poppy syndrome. I have a lot of female friends at the agency and if anything has effected them it’s been these reports. Chin up guys. X
This is great publicity for M&C’s.
“Come work at the one last agency in Sydney that is still having fun” might as well read the headline. “Apologies for our amazing and fantastic parties, we really didn’t mean to offend” should be the byline.
Always had a fantastic hiring policy and always had great parties.
Well done M&C’s. And to those denigrating burlesque as some kind of way to ‘objectify’ women, ask any burlesque dancer how they feel. Guarantee most would say ’empowered.’
Apology not necessary M&C. I’ve attended your last 4 parties (including your 21st bday) & each one was more fabulous than the last. Never change!
Apology not necessary M&C. I’ve attended your last 4 parties (including your 21st bday) & each one was more fabulous than the last. Never change!
Forgive me if I sound a little philosophical, but surely ‘objectifying’ an object is relative to the audiences perception and not the object itself.
And surely mUmbrella is the grotesque party in this case?
Example:
If I see a naked deer and I’m a normal human being, it’s just a deer.
If a twisted puritanic being sees a naked deer, they’ll see bestiality.
The difference doesn’t lie in the subject, but the viewer.
M&C your statement is filled with as much class and grace as the party itself. It is under pressure you see the real values of a business and you have indeed proved the critics wrong. Authentic and honest. Onwards.
Sorry for the latex, hot pants and hairy chests.
Seriously, it was a private party! Tell these puritan’s to fuck off.
Can someone please explain what the problem was?
I’m CEO of a rival agency who has been burnt several times by this mob (Mumbo) and I’ve always vowed to cut the pricks off the PR list but never quite did so. Well after the disgraceful hatchet job on M&C Saatchi’s party, I’ll be doing so – and I suspect quite a few of my peers will do likewise. I certainly won’t invite them to any social occasion.
A friend (who is a supplier to M&C) went to the party and she said there was no way anyone – straight, gay, feminist, trans gender, client, supplier – would have been offended, except obviously the self-righteous prudes from Mumbo – who,according to my friend, happened to stay on merrily drinking and apparently enjoying themselves till hours after the so-called ‘Cake Incident’. If they were that offended why didn’t they leave promptly and write their nasty little beatup that night? Well, I hope you made the most of it guys, because I suspect it’s the last agency party you’ll ever be invited to.
I’m CEO of a rival agency who has been burnt several times by this mob (Mumbo) and I’ve always vowed to cut the pricks off the PR list but never quite did so. Well after the disgraceful hatchet job on M&C Saatchi’s party, I’ll be doing so – and I suspect quite a few of my peers will do likewise. I certainly won’t invite them to any social occasion.
A friend (who is a supplier to M&C) went to the party and she said there was no way anyone – straight, gay, feminist, trans gender, client, supplier – would have been offended, except obviously the self-righteous prudes from Mumbo – who,according to my friend, happened to stay on merrily drinking and apparently enjoying themselves till hours after the so-called ‘Cake Incident’. If they were that offended why didn’t they leave promptly and write their nasty little beatup that night? Well, I hope you made the most of it guys, because I suspect it’s the last agency party you’ll ever be invited to.
I presume Rosie Baker, the editor of AdNews was there, and her mostly all woman editorial staff? How come Rosie, as someone who generally calls out genuine sexism where she sees it, didn’t think the burlesque part of the entertainment was offensive enough to write a piece about it the next day?
Really, Mumbo boys (mostly), I suspect your faux PC outrage is seen by most fair-minded people in the industry for what it is – a bitter and twisted attack on one of Australia’s most respected and decent agencies.
Shame on you Mumbrella. We beg for our industry to be edgy and open and you come with crap observations that cause an agency to be ‘more careful’ moving forward.
Meh.
No invites to Mumbrella agencies. Lesson learnt.
Was i offended? Hell NO! Can’t wait for the next party!
I’m the ECD of a rival agency and there’s no doubt the industry’s behind M&C. They’re one of the finest agency’s in Australia and deserved better particularly on a night where they we’re celebrating the significant contribution they’ve made to the marketing, advertising and social landscape in Australia for decades. Every agency is working to improve gender balance and career opportunities for their businesses and for ALL their employees. We’re not there yet. But there’s more sides to this important issue than misogynistic, middle aged white male’s. This is a serious issue that needs 360 degree informed editorial regarding for example equal pay, working conditions for mothers and more.
The whole episode begs the question though; If as a business you hold an event (invitation only) but PR the occasion on social media and then in the press. If you also invite the press amongst other public figures to this occasion, can it still be considered PRIVATE? what is PRIVATE any more?
Well done to Campaign brief who continue to add value to the creative industry rather than seek opportunities to devalue it and create division.
And congratulations to M&C.
If you look at skilled, beautiful burlesque performers and only see āstrippersā you deserve no airtime, and certainly no cake.
I have fond memories of a MASSIVE plush party in a multi level open space where multiple burlesque acts were performed all night. Possibly the best party ever, NO ONE had an issue.
regardless Im always intrigued that women are generally the ones more fascinated, engaged and appreciating the art (yes) of burlesque way more than men
There is nothing to appologize for here. What is clear time and time again is that mumbrella burn great people and great agencies purely to get a sensationalized headline. Dispite what they say, it is counter productive to our industry.
Give mumbrella nothing. They’ll only twist it and use it to sell their own product.
Last year I spent several months researching Diversity in Advertising in Australia for a paper I was presenting. Justin Graham from M+C was one of the few strategic agency leaders with whom I had a genuinely encouraging conversation on gender and inclusion in a country that’s playing catch up. He and his management recognise both the moral and commercial imperative to be more inclusive and have been doing something about it for quite some time. I’ve known Tom McFarlane for over 30 years. We’ve never worked together, but as a card carrying feminist he has shown me nothing but respect. Finally, I’m not sure the Australian Ad industry needs Mumbrella. They never seem to bring value to a story. They’re The Sun to real industry Guardians. Can’t we please make them go away? At the very least, stop contributing, inviting and writing for them. Cancerous cretins.
No need for apologies M&C – no need at all.
We work in the ‘advertising industry’ love it or hate it – which has never been the pin up poster for exemplary behaviour. Industry parties should be memorable events – it goes with the territory. We’re in a creative industry and each party we attend we expect to be entertained and if that means burlesque performances then bring it on!
I’m a female working in this industry, didn’t attend the gig but have worked with M&C in the past and have nothing but respect for the agency.
This is all getting just a bit silly really.
I think this apology just threw everyone connected with the event right under the bus driven by some pulpit shouting writers. Can’t believe they caved in. Of course their choice of au courant culture trends is appropriate for an industry that has to hook into them. Now they’ve backed down and said “oops our creative radar failed the occasion ” Never complain, never explain still seems to work.
I was there and can confirm reports of the Mumbrella staff still being there for hours after the infamous cake ‘incident’.And so can dozens of others.Talk about biting the hand that pours the free drinks.
What f#%$&*%#@ PARASITES.
Isn’t the prospect of debauchery one of the reasons most of us old timers joined the industry? Let’s not spoil it for the young folk.
Or, should we all give up and go to accounting firms?
I’ve just caught-up with all this madness.
We need to take a hard long look at Mumbrella.
I for one will not be supporting another one of their events.
I hope others on here put their money where theirs mouths are too.
Mumbrella have lost a lot of friends over this.
I hope it costs them some business too. It’s the only way they’ll learn that this is simply unacceptable behaviour.
Dont PR anything to mUmbrella and sue them if they run anything.
Hit them where it hurts. They’ve already contributed greatly to the demise of Droga5, why give them any more steam?
They don’t do this in London or New York – they have no need to try so hard to be cool
For an industry that generally has the knifes out for each other, this is a defining moment. We are sticking up for our own. Standing shoulder to shoulder.
I suggest we don’t read Mumbrella. If their readership falls away, so does their revenue. There are plenty of other rags to click on.
Blimey. From the sounds of it, a great night was had by all. Wish I’d been there.
I am annoyed that Mumbrella’s one-eyed view made it into mainstream media. A real betrayal. Not interested in using them as an unbiased industry information source.
Posted this and they published it today:
“Goodbye Mumbrella. When your team decided to take a moral and highly critical stance on the industry whose activities you depend on for your existence, your platform as an advertising media ceased to meet my information needs. Biting the hand that has fed you very well is not an attractive quality. If you wanted to be the moral guardian of Advertising, you should have relinquished your role as a reporter of facts. As you have now joined the āoutragedā type of commenting, I find you do not suit my needs for information of an industry, for all its flaws, has served me well.”
Those that built M&C are decent people who have worked bloody hard to build this business and along the way encouraged and developed a lot of the people that are now MDs,CEOs and CDs in Australia’s top agencies.right now they provide jobs for hundreds of people of all ages.
I did a freelance gig there last year for 4 weeks and thought the culture was awesome.
Then those pricks at Mumbrella shaft them in one of the happiest weeks in their history.Ask yourself-what have those grubs contributed to your career,your agency or our industry since they began.
All they do is bring negativity and put us down.
The truth is they don’t like us.
They resent us .
Well fuck off out of our lives Mumbrelka you hateful parasites.
The whole thing.
have fucked way too many agencies and creatives over over. They don’t give a fuck about our industry or its people. Time to really give them the cold shoulder and run that little weasel out of business. Who needs them anyway, everything is always twisted to the negative.
I can’t wait until after Australia Day when the first PR release goes out from the large ad agency I represent. Yesterday I was instructed to take one trade media off the list, and you can guess which one that is.
Like On the spot I saw the Mumbrella people still at the party at at least 10.30.
I had a short conversation with one I knew from his past life at several other journals he had a glow on which suggested He had been imbibing on the free m and c booze quite happily.
Not nice people.
Great piece from Rosie at AdNews.
She was there. Most commenting on Mumbrella were not.
http://www.adnews.com.au/opinion/the-mandc-saatchi-sexism-debate-says-a-lot-about-the-trade-press
Let us not forget Esther. She was the first to call it like it was on the night. So few have stood up and put their name to their commentary (for professional reasons I’ve chosen not to). But know this Esther… we admire you.
One of the true dark moments in Australian advertising for a while. A vicious, bile-filled hatchet job designed to cause maximum outrage from the oh-so-easily offended.
Every enemy of M&C lined up to take shots, and lone defenders such as Esther Clerehan found their reputations attacked in some quite horrific personal attacks.
Jane Caro wrote an incendary article from the other side of world, which still remains on SMH despite being almost completely factually incorrect. And then Cindy Gallop, fresh from her Leo Burnett takedown tasted blood in the water, not mentioning that she’s being flown over to Australia as a guest of Mumbrella.
I was there on the night, and actually commented on the Mumbrella message board that I was talking to one of the ‘deeply offended’ journalists, Simon Canning very late into the night, and he was having a whale of a time. Of course, Mumbrella moderators saw fit not to print the comment, but decided that someone else’s anonymous comment that read ‘the two girls I fucked in the toilet seemed to like it’ was far more appropriate.
It was a mob hit. And it hurt M&C on their 21st birthday. But what’s a reputation worth when there are clicks to be chased? Lies, half-truths, outrage and clickbait journalism.
Welcome to Australian advertising in 2016.
One of the true dark moments in Australian advertising for a while. A vicious, bile-filled hatchet job designed to cause maximum outrage from the oh-so-easily offended.
Every enemy of M&C lined up to take shots, and lone defenders such as Esther Clerehan found their reputations attacked in some quite horrific personal attacks.
Jane Caro wrote an incendary article from the other side of world, which still remains on SMH despite being almost completely factually incorrect. And then Cindy Gallop, fresh from her Leo Burnett takedown tasted blood in the water, not mentioning that she’s being flown over to Australia as a guest of Mumbrella.
I was there on the night, and actually commented on the Mumbrella message board that I was talking to one of the ‘deeply offended’ journalists, Simon Canning very late into the night, and he was having a whale of a time. Of course, Mumbrella moderators saw fit not to print the comment, but decided that someone else’s anonymous comment that read ‘the two girls I fucked in the toilet seemed to like it’ was far more appropriate.
It was a mob hit. And it hurt M&C on their 21st birthday. But what’s a reputation worth when there are clicks to be chased? Lies, half-truths, outrage and clickbait journalism.
Welcome to Australian advertising in 2016.
Everyone saw one of the Mumbo journos late in the night at the party. Hours after the time that he was so offended. I know three people who posted this on Mumbrella only for it to be ignored.
They are cowards and hypocrites.
It was most likely an outstanding party in standard M&C style. The real travesty is I don’t know if it lived up to the legend as I wasn’t there.
Now everyone get back to work!
Firstly, kudos to Michael Lynch. If any good comes out of this fracas it was because he had the courage to create a unified voice. This is what I would like to add on behalf of The Stable:
Adland is sexist and ageist. And that needs to change. M&C Saatchi did not mean to be sexist. Thereās a world out there getting only bad news about the industry I love. We need to pull together, fix what needs to be fixed and focus on not being seen as ābad peopleā. Please stop criticising, condemning and complaining about one another. [Candide McDonald, editor]
Mumbo threw the entire industry under a bus when the story was picked up and distorted by Fairfax. It’s hard enough finding great junior talent these days (it seems every millennial wants to work in a start-up). And I bet it will become a whole lot harder after this.
What Mumbrella seem to have forgotten is that with the power of a publishing platform comes the responsibility to use it wisely. With integrity. In an attempt to further their own shellfish agenda, they have set the rest of the industry back. Shame on them.
Yes. Damn you Mumbrella and your scallops and crustations.
I have now tried and tried to get an answer from Mumbrella on what time each member of their editorial team left the party and had they been drinking alcohol.
The fact that they won’t post this enquiry or answer it suggests they are very uncomfortable with the question.
I think it is critical to their integrity.
Or lack thereof.
Following this post I tried too but they obviously don’t want to talk about how long they stayed at M&Cs party.
Why Mumbrella?
Because they stayed until 11:30pm drinking piss and having a laugh.
Hypocrites
Because they stayed until 11:30pm drinking piss and having a laugh.
Hypocrites
Interesting to now see a very long and flattering piece about the agency appearing with many, many positives adjectives by one of said outraged team. That must have hurt. Lawyers at dawn one suspects!
Before this all fades out ask yourself one question ‘what has Mumbrella done to advance our industry?”
My name has appeared several times over the last couple of days, comments from anonymous people who saw me at the M&C Birthday Party.
While Mumbrella has produced an editorial on this that is supported by the entire editorial team (myself included), I have, in fact, not joined this debate as an individual.
I have spent more than 20 years as a journalist covering this industry and am a passionate supporter of it. I would not have come back otherwise. I am proud of every word I have written.
I welcome debate on every issue this industry faces, and from my own perspective, while I might hold an opinion, I might not always be right.
But if you would like to name me, and raise an argument, please, call me
0423 761 359.
Thanks for reading. Seriously. If you care so much, call me. I’m keen to listen. I’m always keen to learn.
Simon
Nothing worse than journos who masquerade as one thing and deliver another.
@last word said it well.
When all is said and done, Mumbrella would rather throw the industry under a bus for their 15 seconds of fame than tackle the big issues.
Did they need to lead with click-bait on an agency. Was feeding the AAP necessary? Or could they have simply featured Bec’s piece on unconscious bias and got behind it?
You decide.
Simon why didn’t you take this opportunity to to tell us how long you stayed at the party and were you drinking. Dozens of attendees know the truth but those who weren’t there don’t.
Please answer.
C’mon Simon, what did you really think of the burlesque performer? What time did you leave the party? And were you invited as a ‘journalist’ to an industry function, or simply as a guest to a private party?