Jeff Bezos is the world’s richest man. But the world’s poorest philanthropist.
While the Amazon fires were burning out of control in the fall of 2019, and everyone watched helplessly as Bolsonaro did nothing to stop it, we made a plea to the owner of Amazon to help save the real Amazon.
We couched it as an investment opportunity, understanding that the way to Bezos’ heart is through his wallet. The premise was simple: as the richest man on the planet, Jeff should be doing more to help the planet.
While some thought it wishful thinking, the internet didn’t, as they shared #DearJeff thousands of times on social, racking up crazy metrics with exactly ZERO media spend behind it. The film also got picked up and featured by NowThisNews, Adweek, The Cut, Observer, and others.
This project was in collaboration with some other great creative provocateurs who prefer not to be named.
Since Jeff wasn’t listening, we turned to someone who might better command his attention. His ex-wife, MacKenzie Bezos.
Then we wheat-pasted our #DearJeff script —>
… Outside Amazon HQ in Seattle. :)
And a funny thing happened. Bezos finally stepped up to the plate and took some action. Committing $10 Billion to fight climate change. While our tiny films aren’t solely responsible for convincing Bezos to part with that gargantuan sum of money to help curb climate change, the films were not not part of his decision. :)
But Bezos never wastes an opportunity to be a bozo. So we called him out again during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In solidarity with #ChrisSmalls and the #AmazonStrike movement, we flipped the script and had Alexa herself put Bezos on blast, encouraging him and Amazon corporate leadership to step up to the plate and treat his workers better during COVID-19.
Alexa’s idea is to have Jeff put in a full day of work packing boxes in one of his Amazon fulfillment centers to prove that he's willing to put his own health on the line for the health of his profits. No different than what he's currently demanding of his workers, who have no other choice but to work in unsafe conditions.
Which prompted the activist at the heart of the #AmazonStrike movement, Chris Smalls, to share the Alexa film on all his social channels, prompting hundreds of thousands of organic views. Again, with zero paid support. Just with a passion for taking Bezos to task.
