Bumble apologizes for ads shaming women into sex
Bumble admits "mistake" after critics explained why celibacy is a valid choice.
Enlarge (credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto)
For the past decade, the dating app Bumble has claimed to be all about empowering women. But under a new CEO, Lidiane Jones, Bumble is now apologizing for a tone-deaf ad campaign that many users said seemed to channel incel ideology by telling women to stop denying sex.
"You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer,” one Bumble billboard seen in Los Angeles read. "Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun," read another.
Bumble HQ
— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) May 14, 2024
“We don’t have enough women on the app.”
“They’d rather be alone than deal with men.”
“Should we teach men to be better?”
“No, we should shame women so they come back to the app.”
“Yes! Let’s make them feel bad for choosing celibacy. Great idea!” pic.twitter.com/115zDdGKZo
Bumble intended these ads to bring "joy and humor," the company said in an apology posted on Instagram after the backlash on social media began.