Coty partners with the Cybersmile Foundation to tackle cyberbullying with Rimmel #IWILLNOTBEDELETED campaign

Sara Wolverson, Vice President of Rimmel Global Marketing, Coty, commented: “Rimmel is about championing self-expression in beauty. We have always been against narrow definitions of beauty and people being judged because of the way they look. As a global beauty company, Coty wants to contribute solutions that can positively impact prejudice and discrimination that stand in the way of self-expression and to raise awareness to affect positive changes in behaviour. We look forward to working with The Cybersmile Foundation, our brand ambassadors, our colleagues worldwide and our consumers on this important issue.”

As part of the collaboration, Rimmel will work with Cybersmile to create the Cybersmile Assistant, a state-of-the-art AI-driven tool that will be available for all visitors to the Cybersmile website from across the globe. Initially launching in an English speaking language version early in 2019, this ground-breaking virtual assistant will be rolled out in several languages and recommend approved local resources, helplines and organizations that can help those affected by beauty cyberbullying.

Coty and Rimmel have also published a report looking at young women’s experiences of beauty cyberbullying. The report spoke to over 11,000 women aged 16-25 across 10 countries to understand the scale and impact of beauty cyberbullying.

Key findings of this report include:

• 1 in 4 women have experienced beauty cyberbullying
• 57% of those who have experienced beauty cyberbullying didn’t tell anyone
• 67% of those who experienced beauty cyberbullying lost confidence
• 46% of women who have experienced beauty cyberbullying have gone on to self-harm

Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation said: “We are excited and proud to find a partner who is truly committed to an inclusive internet and shares our vision of a digital community where everybody can feel free to express themselves without the fear of ridicule and abuse. I am confident that our partnership will change and save lives all over the world.”

The initiative launches today at an event at The Mondrian Hotel in London, attended by Rimmel global brand ambassadors Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne as well as a number of influencers and consumers whose own experiences of beauty cyberbullying have helped shape the campaign.

Rita Ora, Rimmel global brand ambassador, said: “I am really proud to work with Coty and Rimmel on this campaign and support the message that beauty cyberbullying is not okay. I hope that by working with a business the size of Coty, we can get this message out to millions of people worldwide and truly change things for the better.”

Cara Delevingne, Rimmel global brand ambassador, commented: “Cyberbullying related to beauty choices has a real impact on people long after the incident occurs. The idea that some people make decisions in anticipation or fear of potential bullying is heartbreaking. I look forward to working with Rimmel to try and find a way of addressing this growing issue.

About Coty Inc

Coty is one of the world’s largest beauty companies with over $9 billion in revenue and an iconic portfolio of brands. As the global leader in fragrance, a strong number two in professional salon hair color & styling, and number three in color cosmetics, Coty operates three divisions: Consumer Beauty, which is focused on mass color cosmetics, mass retail hair coloring and styling products, body care and mass fragrances with brands such as COVERGIRL, Max Factor, Sally Hansen and Rimmel; Luxury, which is focused on prestige fragrances and skincare with brands such as Calvin Klein, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Gucci and philosophy; and Professional Beauty, which is focused on servicing salon owners and professionals in both hair and nail, with brands such as Wella Professionals, Sebastian Professional, OPI and ghd. Coty has approximately 20,000 colleagues globally and its products are sold in over 150 countries.

Coty’s purpose is to celebrate and liberate the diversity of consumers’ beauty. Driven by this purpose and the passion of its employees, Coty created We Stand For You, a program with an ambition to tackle the prejudice and discrimination that stands in the way of self-expression - based on gender, sexual orientation, disability and ethnicity. As part of this, it partnered with the disruptive international advocacy group, Global Citizen, to build the first-of-its-kind employee social action platform. Powered by Global Citizen’s innovative technology, the We Stand For You platform is a tool for employees to put pressure on world leaders to increase funding and change discriminatory laws and policies that don’t deliver for all. In doing so, it harnesses the power of Coty’s collective voice, enabling employees to become advocates for social change and part of a movement that drives impact at scale. So far, Coty employees around the world have taken over 8,000 actions to tackle prejudice and discrimination.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

About Rimmel

Established in 1834, Rimmel has been rolling with the changes ever since – and instrumental in making many of them. Unveiling cosmetics that enable women and men to live out their best looks and enjoy make-up for what it is: a form of self-expression, that can be freeing, functional and fun, in 2018 we’re making one of our most important statements yet, as we announce a bold new campaign to help put an end to beauty cyberbullying.

Rimmel partnered with charity The Cybersmille Foundation – a multi-award winning anti-cyberbullying non-profit organisation that is committed to tackling all forms of digital abuse to promote a most positive digital community.

About The Cybersmile Foundation

The Cybersmile Foundation is a multi-award winning non-profit organization committed to tackling all forms of digital abuse and bullying online. They work to promote diversity and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community and encouraging people to realize their full potential without the fear of ridicule and abuse.

Through education and the promotion of positive digital citizenship, The Cybersmile Foundation reduces incidents of cyberbullying and provides professional help and support services to children and adults around the world.