A New Jersey magazine has cancelled an upcoming all-male panel at its women's empowerment convention after the event was mercilessly trolled on Twitter.
The "Women's Empowerment Series" is hosted by SJ Magazine and consists of four panels. The events have featured high-powered women in business, like Lara Price, COO of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The third panel of the series was titled "Women in Business: A man's point of view." The magazine shared a promo for the event on Twitter, with photos of the speakers.
TWO MORE WEEKS! Get your tix to our third #WES17 panel, and join us for a fascinating night of personal stories:… https://t.co/OUamnrU0rQ
The series also featured an all-male panel last year.
Their tweet, however, backfired spectacularly, as people began to troll the image of four male speakers at a "women's empowerment event."
This is real.....
Women were like sweetie, no.
@Justsaysj @SalPal_ESPN @VirtuaHealth
No no.
FIRST QUESTION: has anyone ever actually seen one of these mythical women business creatures
No thanks.
Seriously? I mean, SERIOUSLY? You really have an all-male panel on women's empowerment? https://t.co/J3JEJmD5eu
Yikes.
How to blow up Twitter in all the wrong ways. https://t.co/Y6MrHLUEBB
Alrighty.
LOL 'cause we're lacking a "male's perspective" for sure! Lmaoooo - All-male panel on "women's empowerment" https://t.co/GJYh371rXG
Pipe down gents.
Someone thought an all-male panel on "women's empowerment" was a good idea NOT FATHER KNOWS BEST! https://t.co/DPOaY8jbFY via @HuffPostBiz
Some were just speechless.
I ... got nothing. https://t.co/ua0n2otT0R
???
This is the original tweet that led to my WTAF tweet. I repeat. What. The Actual. Fuck?? https://t.co/maJJgXeEVI
After the backlash, one of the speakers, NJ Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, dropped out.
I was asked to participate on a panel for an issue I care deeply about. As a son watching my mother break (cont) https://t.co/jKvo6atyEa
"As a son watching my mother break the glass ceiling in politics and as a father of 2 daughters, I have a passion for the pursuit of equality," he wrote. "In light of a full understanding of the composition of this panel, I will be withdrawing from participating and offering my seat instead to someone who can bring a more diverse and inclusive point of view to this critical issue."
The magazine at first defended itself, saying the panel was just one of four events, and the only one featuring men. They later promised "no mansplaining allowed."
@SalPal_ESPN @VirtuaHealth @LouGreenwald This is one of 4 panels (the others are all women). Men have a responsibil… https://t.co/DIyhY3v9Cu
"Men have a responsibility to step up & support women & we want to start the discussion," the magazine wrote.
However, shortly after, they cancelled the panel.
Statement from SJ Magazine
"We believe it is helpful when everyone is part of the conversation," they wrote. "It was never our intent to offend anyone."