Nicole Kidman’s new airline advertising campaign has hit turbulence.
Nicole Kidman is being criticised for her role in a new campaign for Etihad Airways.
In an open letter to the actress, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents over 25,000 workers, expresses its concern that Kidman‘s relationship with Etihad is at odds with her role as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
The letter reads:
Dear Ms. Kidman,
The 25,000 members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants greatly admire and appreciate your efforts to advance women’s rights around the world as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Using your profile and stature for such a noble endeavor is commendable. However, we believe those efforts are at odds with your prominent role in an advertising campaign for Etihad Airways. The United Arab Emirates and their airlines are well-known in our industry for their discriminatory labor practices and deplorable treatment of female employees. Therefore, the APFA must respectfully ask that you – as a leading advocate for women around the globe – not lend your voice, your image, and your good name to Etihad Airways, the second- largest airline in the UAE.
Last month, on March 8, International Women’s Day, you said, “I envisage a world where all women and girls have equal opportunities and rights… Now is the time to step it up!” Later that very same week, we saw that you had begun appearing in a new campaign for Etihad.
It goes on to mention a Wall Street Journal report that Etihad Airways fires women when they become pregnant, saying, “Etihad’s abhorrent labor policies are hardly surprising when one considers the fact that the airline is wholly owned by the UAE, a country where the only thing that is being “stepped up” for women and girls is the level of abuse.”
An Etihad spokesperson has rejected the claims, saying the airline fully supports their cabin crew during and after pregnancy.
Nicole Kidman snubbing the Grammy interview wasn’t #askhermore. It was just #rude.
According to the airline, upon notifying Etihad of a pregnancy, crew members are provided with ‘appropriate ground duties’, fully compensated, and entitled to paid maternity leave after they have completed a year of service.
“We invite and welcome members of APFA to visit our operations and meet our employees so they can experience firsthand the Etihad Airways workplace and culture,” the airline said.
Nicole Kidman speaks to Mamamia about losing her dad, loving her girls, and surviving.
Kidman’s controversial ad forms part of Etihad’s new “Hollywood Glamour” global brand campaign.
Watch the ad here:
Read the full letter here.
What do you think about Kidman’s involvement with Etihad?
Top Comments
Ms Kidman is a sales and business woman, that's what she does best, I've seen her sell vitamins, chanel products, and now an airline.What next? Incidentally, I've never had the inclination to purchase any of those products, so her sales abilities don't work on me. Don't confuse her with a serious artist. As the great Bill Hicks said, 'Any performer that ever sells a product on television is now and forever and for
all eternity removed from the artistic world, I don’t care if you shit
Mona Lisas out of your ass on cue. You’ve made your f'ing choice.' I've always held that opinion myself, even the great Alistair Sim once said he would not 'prostitute his art' by advertising anything. Obviously, the accumulation of monetary wealth for some people is never enough. More, more and more is their motto. The only person who could do commercials and retain their credibility was the wonderful, Orson Welles, who used anything and everything he earned from his acting or advertising jobs to fund entirely his independent film making. Anything he earned he put back into his industry - tenfold. Somehow, I don't think Ms Kidman does that.
Wow - don't hold back now!
I won't
Given the number of flight attendants who work as prostitutes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I think they need a payrise!
I worked for an uae airline and believe me, the salary is very good and more than enough to survive. Especially since you don't even have to pay for rent and gym. Also you get a lot of discounts in restaurants hotels etc. If there are flight attendants who work as prostitutes they just can't handle money or got too carried away with all the luxury here in uae. If you need a handbag for 500$ than it is your own fault.
I agree with Anna, I also worked with an UAE airline and we are paid sufficiently. No bills, no rent expense and transfers to and from work are also taken care of. The salary was suitable for the cost of living, and personally, i found i was able to afford much more luxurious lifestyle in the UAE on their salary compared to being back home, so very unfortunate if there is a 'number of flight attendants who work as prostitutes in Dubai'. I can't speak for etihad, but for another UAE airline, i know cabin crew who have planned and become pregnant and they are offered maternity leave and or suitable options for ground duty, it may not always be perfect, but i do believe in this situation, it is handled fairly.