Heiress and entrepreneur Ivanka Trump was on the receiving end of some Twitter mockery for enlisting one of her lifestyle blog’s unpaid interns to write a piece posted Thursday about savvy strategies to get by without a paycheck.
How to make it work as an unpaid intern: https://t.co/pwMIYWh4kw #nomoneynoproblems #interntips #internships pic.twitter.com/BRoWuO6bq7
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 18, 2016
In “How to Survive as an Unpaid Intern,” copy intern Quincy Bulin surveys her fellow team of unpaid interns, two of whom are young women named Mackenzie, for their penny-pinching tips. These include adding a part-time summer job to make up for lost income and organizing potlucks with friends to avoid spending money on expensive meals out.
The irony of a billionaire presidential nominee’s daughter declining to pay the female staff she uses to promote her lifestyle blog‚ which champions working women, was not lost on social media users. Some asked Trump whether her internship program complied with federal regulations ensuring that work programs are educational and benefit the intern more than the employer. Others raised an eyebrow at the choice to use emojis of black women in the graphic accompanying the article on social media.
In a statement sent to TPM on Friday, Ivanka Trump Organization’s Chief Brand Officer, Abigail Klem, wrote, “We are passionate about the personal, educational and career growth of our interns. We strive to create a fulfilling learning opportunity tailored to the unique interests and career goals of each intern. It is our goal that at the end of the program, our interns leave with experiences that will help guide them into choosing a fulfilling career path.”
Check out some of the responses on social media below:
@IvankaTrump what the hell do you know about being an unpaid intern? Or making it work? Why all your emojis black women?? #TrumpPence16
— bodhizwanya (@malikazwanya) August 18, 2016
The celebration of free labor accentuated with emojis of black women? The Trumps are now doing bad performance art. https://t.co/3jHSeiJPqF
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 19, 2016
Ivanka Trump is telling people how to “make it work as unpaid intern” — by having her unpaid intern write an essay. https://t.co/s7XIiAKsO2
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 19, 2016
.@IvankaTrump pic.twitter.com/DP9QxWgHjd
— Colin (@csmith03) August 18, 2016
@IvankaTrump U have zero credibility on this topic.
— Lisa (@ladykayaker) August 18, 2016
@IvankaTrump What’s the “one weird trick”? Be born rich?
— Nicholas Campiz (@ncampiz) August 18, 2016
@IvankaTrump why not just pay your interns?! Do you not have enough money?
— Antonio (@AntonioHolguin) August 19, 2016
@IvankaTrump I’ve supervised interns at charities who have no funds for them, yet a billion $ luxury brand stiffs them w/ no sense of irony?
— Lloyd Jacobson (@HOUmanReporter) August 19, 2016
.@IvankaTrump is this a joke? Is all of this some sort of Kaufman-esque performance art piece?
— Chris Bea (@CJosephBea) August 18, 2016
@IvankaTrump pic.twitter.com/xUiFg50JWi
— Tracy (@TraceOddity) August 19, 2016
@IvankaTrump “How to Pay Your Interns”
Fixed your title for you
— Morgan Braaten (@MBraat) August 18, 2016
