In the world of corporate leadership and the constant scrutiny of social media, even the most seemingly innocuous actions of CEOs can spark controversy.
In a recent incident, Tony Fernandes, the chief executive officer of Air Asia, found himself at the center of a heated online debate.
The source of the controversy? A shirtless photo of him receiving a massage from a woman during a conference call, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The Controversial LinkedIn Post
On October 16th, Tony Fernandes made a post on his LinkedIn account that quickly stirred the pot. In the photo accompanying the post, he was shirtless and seated while a woman massaged his left shoulder.
The caption read, “Got to love Indonesia and AirAsia culture that I can have a massage and do a management meeting. We are making big progress, and I have now finalized Capital A structure. Exciting days ahead. Proud of what we have built and never have lost sight of the finish.”
While Mr. Fernandes may have intended the post to convey a sense of multitasking prowess and corporate progress, it received mixed reactions.
Public Reactions
The reactions on social media were largely critical. Many questioned the appropriateness of the CEO appearing shirtless during a professional meeting.
The photo made it’s way onto X (formerly know as Twitter) as some users piled on, saying that “Tony when you said Air Asia had an open culture, I didn’t expect it to be THIS open”.
Others questioned how him getting a shirtless massage at work can be called “culture” as they found it to be appalling.
The Discussion of Work Culture
In response to the criticism, Mr. Fernandes defended his actions. Speaking to the news outlet Malaysiakini, he expressed regret if anyone had taken offense but maintained that it was a mini-management meeting, and none of the staff present had raised objections to him receiving a massage.
He emphasized the importance of understanding the work culture at Air Asia and suggested that the post had been taken out of context.
Mr. Fernandes’ response added another layer to the ongoing conversation. He apologized for any unintended offense but also emphasized that his actions should be viewed in the context of Air Asia’s unique work culture. It was an attempt to showcase the ability to multitask but had evidently been misconstrued.