Some companies that thrived because of Black culture are being called out for hypocrisy

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First, a PSA: We're speaking with YouTube and Instagram influencers including Shelby Church and Ruby Asabor in a webinar on August 5 about how they're adapting their businesses to the pandemic. Sign up here.

On to the news: This week, we focused on companies being called out for hypocritical behavior, bright spots in media, and how Facebook became entrenched with advertisers.

Holding companies to account

Throngs of companies have made statements supporting Black Lives Matter and committing to be more diverse, but those gestures don't hold up well with everyone. That's especially true at consumer companies that owe their success to Black culture.

One such company is Complex Networks, which built a profitable digital media business on sneaker, hip hop, and other lifestyle content. But some of that success may have come as a result of what some insiders called "whitewashing" its ties to Black culture.

Another is Red Bull, which leans heavily on Black culture in its marketing but which employees said didn't go far enough in supporting the Black community.

With employees and customers increasingly holding companies accountable for their internal practices, CEOs can expect to see more of this kind of scrutiny.

Read more: Insiders at Complex Networks said the company was built on Black culture but that the sales team 'whitewashed' advertising deals for brands, replacing Black people with white people in pitch decks

Bright spots in media

There's a lot of doom and gloom in media, with live sports and productions being delayed and advertising being slashed. But it's a good time for media companies that are keeping people entertained at home due to the pandemic. We asked investors to name startups that are best positioned in today's environment.

Read further: 19 media startups that top VCs say are poised to take off in 2020, as the pandemic reshapes the industry

Inside the Facebook playbook

Disney is the latest big advertiser to jump ship from Facebook, and it's a big one. But despite all the Facebook cancellation statements and hand-wringing about its dominance, a history lesson's in order.

As Patrick Coffee and Lauren Johnson wrote, top Facebook execs like Carolyn Everson used a mix of hard and soft power to get advertisers in their pocket, and advertisers have been willing to play along.

In the words of one ad exec: "If I didn't know her, I would be attacking her."

Read more: How Carolyn Everson made Facebook an ad juggernaut, with ski trips, cocktails, and exclusive clubs

Other stories you should check out:

• People are spending more time daily on TikTok than Instagram, in a wild sign of the video app's meteoric rise
• Inside the launch of Sportico, Penske Media's new sports-business brand that fast-tracked its debut as live sports shut down
• GMMB insiders say the top progressive ad and PR agency has a problem with microaggressions
• The pandemic has forced people to live almost entirely online. These 13 startups offer you control over your data.
• POWER LIST: Here are the 17 most outstanding women transforming the sneaker industry today, from designers to influencers

That's it for today. Thanks for reading, and see you tomorrow.

— Lucia