A photo shoot organized by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has spawned online mockery after reports of an exorbitant price tag emerged online.
Re/code received word that a "Wizard of Oz" themed photo shoot for Yahoo execs promoting the company holiday party, in which Mayer portrayed the lead character of Dorothy — complete with a stuffed toy as Toto — allegedly cost $70,000.
The shoot took place during a company offsite at the Cavallo Point Lodge in Marin County.
“It was very embarrassing," the publication quoted an anonymous source, "but Marissa thought that it was the way to make employees in Silicon Valley happy. We really could not argue.”
Other online reactions include:
- "Guess you can't fire a pregnant lady. But really, how much longer can this last?" asked Kevin Kingsbury.
- "Come for the bizarre Wizard of Oz dress-up story, stay for the skepticism about Mayer's vision of Yahoo's future," wrote Jillian D'Onfro.
Yahoo recently teamed up with Google on internet search and advertising after a disappointing third-quarter performance. Mayer promised to trim Yahoo's expenses in light of the declining revenue. She remains hopeful things will take a turn for the better.
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Mayer’s convoluted Yahoo strategy. And look what we found! https://t.co/0V17ZKo58R via @karaswisher pic.twitter.com/zpyapfrOv7 — Re/code (@Recode) November 12, 2015
@JimmyJJam @Recode yahoo of course. — Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) November 12, 2015
This just in: Yahoo's Laurie Mann was the Cowardly Lion (if he only had the nerve): https://t.co/IyoeNi3oy6 — Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) November 11, 2015