Swift References and Mixed Public Reception
The video includes several references to Taylor Swift, such as her record-breaking $1 billion concert tour. Blackstone takes this opportunity to highlight its $1 trillion under management. The video received mixed reviews on social media, with some users expressing horror at its genuine nature, believing it to be a parody. Social media users also noted the cultural relevance of incorporating nods to Swift, who was named Time’s “Person of the Year” in 2023.
Blackstone’s Annual Holiday Tradition
Blackstone’s holiday video is an annual tradition that began in 2018 as a lighthearted way for employees to laugh at themselves. This year’s video focuses on content creation and features Blackstone bankers attempting to embrace TikTok. Despite the video garnering over 118,000 views on YouTube, Blackstone has disabled comments.
The video drew attention from finance-focused individuals, including Joe Cassandra, the founder of a marketing agency, Suite Financial. Cassandra expressed concern about the decision-making abilities of those who approved the video. Another user on social media criticized the depiction of predominantly older white men in the video. The reception on social media has been divided, with some praising the “cinematography gold” quality while others labeled it as “cringey” and called for a potential recession.
Overall, Blackstone’s holiday video attracted significant attention due to its Taylor Swift-inspired theme, showcasing an unconventional approach by a financial firm. Alongside the video’s release, Spotify Wrapped playfully added “Blackstone” and “Alternatives Era” to its list, with DJ D-Sol, an investment banker turned DJ, ranking as the second-most listened to artist.