AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes Shirtless While Getting a Massage During Management Meeting

AirAsia CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is no stranger to being in the limelight, previously apologising for backing scandal-tainted former Prime Minister Najib Razak in the run-up to the May 9 elections back in 2018. In 2021, he posted a picture with his Tesla while people demanded refunds and most recently, AirAsia X received flak for international flight seats held together by tape. Now, he has hit the headlines again after uploading a LinkedIn post of himself being shirtless during a virtual meeting.

In the post, he said, “Was a stressful week and Veranita Yosephine (female CEO of Indonesia AirAsia) suggested a massage. Got to love Indonesia and AirAsia culture that I can have a massage and do a management meeting.”

“We are making big progress and I have now finalized (the) Capital A structure. Exciting days ahead. Proud of what we have built and never have lost sight of the finish (line),” he added. AirAsia Group is now known as Capital A.

In the image, he was seen completely shirtless from the waist up as he faced a tablet while a staff massaged his shoulders. His post has drawn significant attention from online users with over 600 reactions as of the time of writing. The news has also been covered by international media such as the Hindustan Times.

His actions have been slammed by many LinkedIn users, who deemed it highly unprofessional and raised discussions about gender equality. Other comments included, “Delighted to announce that I've had enough internet for the day” and “Work at AirAsia, where meetings are as gross as our passenger experience. You have managed to capture everything from inappropriate entitlement to exemplary C Suite tone-deafness in a single image. Bravo!”

Barbara said, “Having a woman massaging your naked upper body on a work meeting AND BRAGGING ABOUT IT on LinkedIn brings the well-known and embraced misogyny of Asian Workplace to a whole new level.”

Meanwhile, Priya said, “How is being shirtless with an image like this, while being (at) a management meeting called culture? And why does he even find this acceptable to share?! It is appalling.”

User Eric made a lengthy commentary about the issue saying, “Call me conservative of passe, but everyone under our charge deserves the respect he or she needs, and a basic expression of that respect is to at least meet them dressed decently and be all present to listen, discuss, and lead.”

Craig added, “imagine if a professor was to do this! We’d be toasted, roasted, and decommissioned!”

What is your take on his shirtless post?

Image credit: www.linkedin.com/in/tonyfernandesairasia/