Andrew Dudum, the CEO of the popular telehealth company Hims & Hers, recently sparked backlash after he encouraged anti-Israel protestors to apply to his company on a social media post.  Following Dudum’s message, Hims & Hers stock tanked, losing over $200 million in market capitalization.

The CEO initially took to X, expressing his opinion that “moral courage” is more valuable than a “college degree.”  Dudum suggested there is a pool of “eager” CEOs, including himself, seeking to hire pro-Palestinian activists.

“Moral courage > College degree If you’re currently protesting against the genocide of the Palestinian people & for your university’s divestment from Israel, keep going. It’s working. There are plenty of companies & CEOs eager to hire you, regardless of university discipline,” Dudum wrote on X.

Evidently, the post did not sit well with investors as reports indicate Hims & Hers shares dropped roughly 8% on May 3, lowering the company’s market value from $2.62 billion to $2.41 billion.  As the company’s stock plunged, Dudum released a follow-up statement claiming his comments were misunderstood.

“The last few days have been a disheartening reflection of just how divisive a time we live in. I’d like to clarify a few things because my words have been misconstrued by some,” Dudum wrote, clarifying his prior statement in a lengthy post.

The CEO made it clear that he does not endorse the fervent antisemitism and violent actions taken by some protestors around the nation, maintaining there is “no justification” for such conduct.  Dudum emphasized that he only supports peaceful protesting.

“I, in no way condone nor support acts or threats of violence, antisemitism, or intimidation and there is absolutely no justification for violence on our campuses. Every student deserves to feel safe without fear of harm or being targeted for who they are. I am deeply saddened that my support for peaceful protest has been interpreted by some as encouraging violence, intimidation, or bigotry of any kind,” he added.
Dudum continued discussing the importance of the right to peacefully protest, claiming it is a “critical” feature in American democracy.  He argued that the peacefully subversive actions of students throughout history have been the catalyst for significant societal change.

“I do believe deeply in the right for people to use their voices in peaceful protest to drive change. This right is critical to our democracy and must be protected. Our world today is more just because students throughout history have courageously taken to their campuses and used their voices to force change. Generations of Americans have engaged in non-violent protest, and these movements have led to some of the most important changes in our country’s history,” according to the chief executive.

Dudum noted his own family lineage, which has both Jewish and Palestinian descent.  He explained, “As a father whose children are both the descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled the Nakba in 1948, and the descendants of Holocaust survivors from Poland, as I have previously shared, I have a personal appreciation for the different perspectives people have which I live with daily at my dinner table. I hope and pray for peace and for an end to violence everywhere.”
Featured image credit:  Featured image credit: Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palestine_protest_Berlin_2021-05-22_08.jpg