LinkedIn CEO apologizes after employees make 'appalling' comments during video conference on racial diversity

The CEO of LinkedIn has been forced to apologize after several employees made 'appalling' and 'offensive' comments during a video conference on diversity and inclusion. 

LinkedIn workers from around the world dialed in to the 'virtual town hall' earlier this week so the company could 'reflect on their own biases, practice allyship, and intentionally drive equitable actions' following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd. 

While the conference call was in session, workers were able to post anonymous comments on a message sidebar on the video chat - and controversy quickly ensued, according to a report in The Daily Beast

One employee posted to the message board: 'George's killers need to be tried according to law. But how can hiring more minorities into manager roles and C-suite positions address cop racism? I thought hiring at LinkedIn is based on merit alone.

Another wrote: 'This tragic incident that happened to George Floyd happened exactly the same to [white man] Tony Timpa by Dallas cops in 2016, and no one seemed to care then. There were no out cry for justice in his case. Why? Should we not want justice for all?'

The controversial comments continued, with another chiming in: 'Do we all understand that racial prejudice is about EVERYONE and can go any direction? Racial prejudice is rampant in tech companies. As a white person, I've experienced it from people of other races too.'

As the conference continued, other LinkedIn employees were allegedly mortified by some of the views of their colleagues. 

'I do not feel safe working at this company in a place where I was already uncomfortable with the treatment I've received on my OWN team since I started. This is so sad,' one wrote. 

'I am COMPLETELY shocked by some of these racist comments from my fellow employees. I am thoroughly disgusted!' raged another 

One employee - who identified as black - wrote that her colleague's comments  'absolutely destroyed me'.

LinkedIn released a report last year which revealed its workforce was 47.5 percent white, 40.3 percent Asian, 5.9 percent Latino and 3.5 percent black. 

In an internal email following the conference call, CEO Ryan Roslansky wrote: 'I have heard people share the pain and frustration they felt at appalling comments shared in the Q&A and chat, and so it's important that I weigh in directly. 

'I said it in the Company Group yesterday, and I will say it again, we are not and will not be a company or platform where racism or hateful speech is allowed.'

He continued: 'Many of you shared the hardest part was realizing that this company we love and hold to such a high standard still has a lot of work to do to educate ourselves and our colleagues on how to create a culture that is truly anti-racist. We will do that work.'

Roslansky also pledged that comments in upcoming conferences would not be allowed to be submitted anonymously. 

'We have to anchor on our values, including having open, honest and constructive conversations and respecting that relationships matter,' he wrote