Macy's spends $6M on 4th of July fireworks, Internet asks about employees who were laid off to reduce costs
Macy's Fourth of July fireworks never fail to put a bright smile on people's faces but this time, things were done differently. As coronavirus pandemic triggered a global pandemic, the idea of celebrating the Fourth of July changed. Many events were broadcasted on television and streamed online to ensure that the safety of the citizens is not jeopardized.
"To allow New Yorkers to experience this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks safely without creating crowds, the annual spectacle was reimagined as a series of smaller unannounced displays in every borough of New York City," the official website stated.
The broadcast event allowed people to enjoy several artists and fireworks from the comfort of their homes. "This year’s musical score will feature a mix of pop and patriotic anthems celebrating New York City’s resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic. Produced in partnership with Hollywood Scoring, the musical score will include a special salute to America’s frontline workers, who have served our city and country tirelessly during this time," the website further wrote.
While some of them enjoyed, others were quick to point out the money that was spent. As per Style Caster, approximately $6 million was spent on the firework. "He estimated cost that Macy’s coughs up for the fireworks alone! That, of course, doesn’t include the added costs for big acts such as Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw, and Usher," the outlet reported.
People were quick to point out how Macy's had recently fired several employees to reduce costs. Last month, Macy's had announced that they would be laying off about 3,900 corporate and management employees as coronavirus had affected the economy.
“While the reopening of our stores is going well, we do anticipate a gradual recovery of the business, and we are taking action to align our cost base with our anticipated lower sales. These were hard decisions as they impact many of our colleagues," said Macy’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette, as reported by The Hill.
People were quick to slam Macy's and wrote, "Dear #macys pay your employees, forget fireworks!!" "#MacysFireworks thousands of employees laid off during these uncertain times. Yet Macy’s found the cash to have fireworks. Those fireworks could have been a few week's salaries," said another.
"#MacysFireworks hey @Macys- we don’t want this. STOP. Use this money to rehire the 4 thousand employees you fired during COVID. Or donate to charity. Surprise fireworks trigger those with PTSD and upset pets. Just stop. Please," wrote another.