An Estée Lauder executive, John Demsey, who was terminated from his position after sharing a racist meme, has expressed feelings of being confined to his six-story, $9.2 million townhouse in New York City. Demsey, 67 years old, was forced to leave the cosmetics company in February 2022, after working there for 31 years and facing growing public pressure due to the offensive meme he posted on his personal Instagram account. The meme, which depicted Big Bird from Sesame Street visiting an ailing Mr. Snuffleupagus, contained a racial slur and made light of the coronavirus. Demsey, who has been labeled a symbol of “white privilege,” has recently spoken out, admitting his mistake and claiming that he misunderstood the meme initially shared by rapper Chingy.
Demsey, who is divorced, currently resides in the brown townhouse with his 14-year-old daughter, eight dogs, and two cats. Following his suspension without pay by Estée Lauder’s CEO and chairman, he was swiftly let go from his $10 million per year position. As part of a legal agreement, Demsey resigned from the company after being accused of racism for sharing the offensive meme. In an interview with The New York Post, Demsey stated, “It felt like I had become the victim of identity theft. I made a mistake, and I have corrected it. However, the life I had prior to this incident no longer exists.”
During the past 18 months, Demsey has experienced a range of emotions, including anger and depression. He has devoted his time mainly to exercising and has lost 35 pounds. However, he primarily finds himself confined to the house he purchased in 2018. He stated, “I almost feel as though I am under house arrest, and when I do venture out, people treat me as if they have mourned my passing.”
Demsey shared an apology statement on Instagram, admitting that his actions were impulsive and rooted in his excessive use of the platform during the pandemic. He disclosed that he was posting 20 to 30 times a day, and people responded positively, turning it into a habit. He asserted that the meme appeared on his feed randomly and claimed that he read the racial slur as “nanna,” not realizing the full meaning. He emphasized, “I have never used that word in my life.” Nevertheless, he was perceived as a liability and faced cancellation. Demsey labeled himself an “impresario” and explained that the businesses and people he supported thrived due to his influence.
Creative director June Ambrose came to Demsey’s defense, stating, “Just because you are privileged does not automatically make you racist.” She anticipated that he would receive a suspension, and then Estée Lauder would move forward. Demsey expressed disappointment with friends who failed to publicly support him after his departure from the company. He found it particularly challenging because he considered the Lauders, particularly chairman emeritus Leonard Lauder, to be like family. “I loved the family, especially Leonard Lauder, because I believed their values were in stark contrast to those of other companies,” he added.
Demsey does not want to be defined by the three hours he spent on social media. He expressed his desire to return to the social scene in which he used to thrive. He recently hosted a birthday party at his house for June Ambrose, attended by actor Zachary Quinto and Bergdorf Goodman executive Linda Fargo. Demsey insisted, “I am not finished—by any means. I still have a lot more to offer and say. The world is still an exciting place.”
In June 2022, Demsey’s father passed away, and he relocated his mother, who was battling cancer, from Ohio to New York to care for her. Demsey played a crucial role in transforming Estée Lauder from a privately-owned family business into a publicly-traded industry giant, reaching a peak worth of $100 billion. He joined the company in 1991 after its acquisition of the Canadian cosmetics firm MAC and oversaw other brands such as Too Faced and Smashbox. Demsey led the global expansion of MAC and became the executive group president in 2015. He received recognition for bringing black celebrities like Mary J. Blige, Saweetie, and Rihanna to MAC. Besides, he launched the MAC Viva Glam campaign, which raised $430 million for AIDS/HIV research.
Although he is currently subject to a non-compete clause, Demsey has taken on a senior advisory role with private equity firm L Catterton, where he will help identify new business opportunities.
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