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Exclusive: The Story Behind E.l.f.’s Controversial Matt Rife Campaign

The beauty brand’s chief marketing officer Kory Marchisotto spoke to The Business of Beauty about the ad and its aftermath. “There is a big gap between our intention and how this missed the mark for some people,” she said.
E.l.f. Beauty's "E.l.f.ino & Schmarnes" campaign featuring comedian Matt Rife and drag queen Heidi N Closet.
E.l.f. Beauty's "E.l.f.ino & Schmarnes" campaign featuring comedian Matt Rife and drag queen Heidi N Closet. (E.l.f. Beauty)

E.l.f. Cosmetics’ ads usually make a splash. The affordable cosmetics maker has decried the lack of gender parity in the boardroom with a sketch campaign called

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Further Reading

The Important Message Behind ‘So Many Dicks’

A genius marketing campaign from E.l.f. Beauty this week emphasised how diversity, equity and inclusion efforts can be done at the highest levels — and what the barriers are to making substantial progress.

About the author
Haley Crawford
Haley Crawford

Haley Crawford is Marketing Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. She is based in New York and covers the marketing and public relations industries.

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