In a notable shift, Jack Daniel’s has scaled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following threats from conservative influencer Robby Starbuck. Starbuck, known for targeting companies over their DEI efforts, recently announced on Twitter, “Big news: The next company we were set to expose was Jack Daniels,” but the whiskey giant has already altered several of its DEI programs. Starbuck suggested that Jack Daniel preemptively changed its DEI policies after as, “They must have been tipped off by us going through employee LinkedIn pages.” An email from Brown Forman, Jack Daniel’s parent company, revealed the decision to end partnerships with the Human Rights Campaign and the Corporate Equality Index, which monitors LGBTQ workplace policies. The company cited an evolution of their DEI program to a "strategic framework." Eric Bloem of the Human Rights Campaign condemned the move, criticizing Starbuck as “a political bully and election denier.” Bloem warned that Jack Daniel’s decision risks alienating a significant portion of its customer base: “With nearly 30% of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ and the community wielding US$1.4 trillion in spending power, retreating from these principles undermines both consumer trust and employee success.” #Queer Up Business