Not a good look.
EasyJet has apologised to staff after it emerged a video addressing cabin crew and pilots asking them to make financial sacrifices due to the coronavirus outbreak used vast tracts of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s speech to the Irish public on St Patrick’s Day.
The company’s chief operating officer Peter Bellew made the video for staff which was accused of heavily plagiarising the Taoiseach’s speech.
An internet user spliced the two speeches together and prompted an apology to staff from the airline.
In an apology to staff this weekend, reported by The Guardian, Bellew wrote: “Some of you have spotted similarities between the message I did last week and a recent speech by the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
“I can only hold my hands up and apologise. I thought the Taoiseach struck exactly the right note and it really resonated in my mind with what we are going through, so I borrowed some of his phrases in my recent message to cabin crew and pilots, which I realise now I should not have done.
“I would like to say sorry to the taoiseach and to all of you. I will write all of my own speeches in future.”
Clip via Stuart George
Like many airlines, EasyJet has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic with the budget airline saying last week it may need credit or loans from the government in order to stay afloat.
The airline plans to halt 90% of its flights by Tuesday, following similar moves by Ryanair and other airlines.
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