Fury over AirAsia CEO’s shirtless massage photo during conference call | The Mercury
The CEO of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes, faced heavy criticism after posting a picture on LinkedIn, which has since been deleted, depicting him shirtless and receiving a massage during a business meeting. In the post, Fernandes lauded the culture of Indonesia and AirAsia, suggesting that he could have a massage during a management meeting. He explained that the massage had been recommended by a colleague.
This social media post quickly drew backlash, with many social media users deeming it unprofessional and inappropriate. They believed that such actions could make employees uncomfortable and questioned the lack of public relations vetting. Some labeled it as “unprofessional and disrespectful.” As the CEO of Capital A Berhad, the Malaysia-based group overseeing AirAsia, Fernandes has been actively involved in the company’s development since acquiring it from the Malaysian government in 2001. Under his leadership, AirAsia has grown into a major player with operations in over 25 countries and serving more than 150 destinations.
Fernandes, known for his active presence on social media, posted twice more on LinkedIn following the controversy but did not address the massage post. In one of his subsequent posts, he acknowledged facing crises in the past, emphasizing personal growth and the identification of true friends and supporters. CNBC sought comments from both AirAsia and Fernandes regarding the situation.
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