In a bold and informative statement of rejection, Apple shareholders have just given a resounding thumbs-down to a proposal aimed at dismantling the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This all unfolded as a response to a not-so-surprising push led by the National Center for Public Policy Research, which, in their infinite wisdom, believes that scrapping DEI is the way to go. What a time to be alive!

During a rather uneventful annual meeting, shareholders swiftly crushed this anti-DEI proposal, with a staggering 97% voting against it. Let that sink in for a moment. You know things are going well when shareholders overwhelmingly decide to stick with their commitment to diversity rather than follow President Trump’s nostalgic call to reverse civil rights progress. Props to Apple for resisting the toxic charm offensive!

Sadly, this isn’t just a one-off spectacle. Last month, a similar proposal was served at Costco’s annual meeting, and guess what? They too gave it the boot. This might not be a shocker considering the wave of pushback from corporations against the anti-DEI campaign spilling out of the Trump administration. It’s almost like they realize diversity might actually make good business sense. Who knew?

In defense of the proposal, Stefan Padfield, an executive at the conservative think tank, trotted out the classic line that “forced diversity is bad for business”. Because, sure, we all know that hiring for talent and representation is just a “forced” principle now. Padfield wants us to believe there’s an imminent threat of lawsuits hanging over Apple’s head due to their DEI programs. But is that really true? Spoiler: It’s not.

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, seems to be embracing the vibes of inclusion while maintaining a diplomatically cozy relationship with Trump. It’s like the kid at school who gets bullied but keeps inviting the bully for playdates, confusing but strategic! Despite any potential legal jabberwocky, Cook reassured shareholders that Apple will continue promoting a culture of belonging. Let’s hear it for the $3.7 trillion company still believing in a colorful workforce!

However, while happy endings in corporate boardrooms are nice, we all know the real work still needs to be done. Apple’s 2022 diversity report showed that a listing majority of their workforce consists of predominantly white and Asian employees. But let’s hope their steadfast defense against this unrelenting wave of anti-DEI pressure signifies brighter days ahead. Diversity isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity. And considering the pushback against it, we might just be in for some groundbreaking change.

Time for tech giants to truly wake up and realize: diversity isn’t optional; it’s vital! 🌈