Billboard’s Chief Brand Officer, Dana Droppo, deactivated her X (formerly Twitter) account after old tweets resurfaced, sparking a massive online backlash.
The comments, made in the previous decade, were directed at pop stars Taylor Swift and Rihanna. Droppo reportedly called Swift a “loser” and mocked her relationships, claiming the singer “can’t keep a man.” She also compared Rihanna to reality TV star Evelyn Lozada and made inappropriate remarks about childbirth, which further fueled outrage.
Billboard’s Chief Brand Officer, Dana Droppo has deactivated her X/Twitter account after some of her nasty tweets about Taylor Swift and Rihanna went viral on social media. pic.twitter.com/OVOuorTXUA
— Pop Stuff (@ThePopStuff) November 28, 2024
The tweets quickly went viral, especially among Swift’s devoted fanbase, the Swifties. Fans flooded social media with criticism, demanding both an apology from Droppo and accountability from Billboard. One Swifty criticized Droppo, stating: “A woman executive who celebrates Billboard events like 'Women in Music' but talks about female artists' vagina and compares them to dogs? This is the type of vile human you choose to represent your brand???” Many fans also called for Droppo’s firing.
ofc @danadroppo chief of @billboard branding has said misogynist things about Taylor. It all makes sense now. Taylor deserves an apology. pic.twitter.com/r3PIJLZyeX
— Leti (@swtstcon) November 28, 2024
The controversy was further heightened by a recent issue involving Billboard. The publication had issued a public apology after including a controversial clip of Taylor Swift in a video celebrating her achievements. The video depicted a wax figure of Swift in a compromising position, leading to widespread outrage. While Billboard apologized for this mistake, the timing of the apology amplified criticism of the publication’s leadership, including Droppo’s old tweets.
took us finding how vile your staff is for you to issue an apology? fire that racist and misogynist chief brand officer dana droppo https://t.co/6ailp188ZJ
— gale (@maindsc) November 28, 2024
Droppo, who has previously worked at major media outlets like Complex Media, Rolling Stone, and The Hollywood Reporter, has remained silent since deactivating her account. The scandal has raised questions about the balance between personal opinions and professional responsibilities, particularly for someone in Droppo’s influential role at Billboard, where she shapes the brand and audience strategy.
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