Silicon Valley tech company apologizes for sexist stunt after response to industry event

A major Silicon Valley technology company, Palo Alto Networks, has apologized after widespread criticism over its controversial marketing stunt at an industry event in Las Vegas.

The company faced backlash after images emerged of female models dressed in tight outfits with lampshades covering their heads used as human lamp stands during a networking event at the Black Hat conference.

Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, expressed regret over what he described as a “misguided attempt to welcome guests,” and acknowledged that the use of lamp-bearing hostesses was inappropriate. Unnikrishnan KP, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, echoed this sentiment, calling the decision “tone deaf, in poor taste and not in line with our corporate values.”

The incident has reignited discussions about Silicon Valley’s persistent “bro” culture, a term used to describe the male-dominated, often misogynistic environment that has been the subject of criticism for years. Olivia Rose, a cybersecurity consultant, condemned the event on LinkedIn, highlighting the ongoing challenges women face in the tech industry. She criticized the company for reducing women to mere props, noting that some female employees felt too intimidated to voice their concerns about the decision.

The tech industry has long faced accusations of sexism and exclusionary practices. Emily Chang, in her book Brotopiaexamines the dark side of Silicon Valley culture, including its impact on women working in the industry. The Palo Alto Networks incident has drawn comparisons to outdated practices like the use of “booth babes,” which were phased out in the early 2000s but stuck around for far longer than they should have.

In response to the controversy, Palo Alto Networks has launched an internal investigation to determine how the decision was made and to ensure similar mistakes are not repeated. However, some critics on social media have questioned the sincerity of the company’s apology, suggesting there was no direct acknowledgment of the sexism and misogyny underlying the stunt.