Through Jeroslyn Jovonn
June 25, 2025
The recovery of Dei was felt at the Cannes Lions Festival 2025.
The 2025 Cannes Lions Festival witnessing a noticeable decline of conversations and representation of diversity, fairness and inclusion (dei), indicating that the recovery of dei efforts is spreading Outside the business world in the entertainment industry.
“There were disappointingly few discussions devoted to tackling diversity,” Rania Robinson, CEO of London Agency Quiet Storm, told Adweek.
This year’s Cannes Lions contain less dei-oriented sessions in the Palais and noticeably less discussion about the subject of off-stage. Although there were some striking moments, such as Havas and The New York Times‘Session about’ The Inclusion Revolution ‘by Neurodiversity and ZBD Talent, the general focus of the festival leaned heavily to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), so that Dei largely lags behind in the background.
“Conversations that were once focused on fairness, representation and systemic progress were largely replaced by AI, ROI and Humor as the new creative currency,” said Ted Kohnen, CEO of Agency Park & Battery.
The subtle disadvantage of Dei interviews in Cannes reflects a broader trend of companies that shield their diversity obligations in response to the growing political pressure of conservative groups. Mega companies such as Target, Walmart and Amazon have confronted with recoil and boycots for the publicly restrain of their dei efforts.
New research The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) showed that marketers are constantly hesitating to express their values or take public views in today’s volatile and politically charged climate. According to the WFA research among global marketers, 81% stated that the current environment feels risky only a year ago than it did.
Although Dei interviews were less prominent in Cannes this year, the work that received the highest distinction was a broader range of global voices. Various Grand Prix Awards recognized campaigns that are in favor of disabled inclusion, gender equality and the fight against racial injustice.
“Although diversity was not trending in the conversations or headlines, it was still present in the work, in casting, telling stories, and in the subjects he tackled brands,” said Alex Bennett-Grant, co-founder of Amsterdam Agency we are Pi. “The creative industry is not coordinated – not yet.”
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