Corporate Gossip Johnson & Johnson: Is the ethical company in the room with us?
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Sep 26, 2025 Dive into the murky depths of Johnson & Johnson's history, exposing scandals, deception, and questionable ethics. Discover the unsettling details behind the 1982 Tylenol cyanide murders and the company's secretive practices regarding acetaminophen safety. Uncover the shady marketing tactics behind Risperdal and the disturbing impact on vulnerable populations. With insights on the FDA's ties to the industry and ongoing talc lawsuits, this discussion reveals the dark side of a household name.
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Brand Halo Masks Corporate Harm
- Johnson & Johnson built a trust halo through nostalgic products and heavy marketing that masked decades of harmful practices.
- Their credo functioned as corporate gaslighting, reinforcing a public image at odds with internal behavior.
Tylenol Response Was Messier Than Taught
- The Tylenol cyanide case is taught as a textbook example of ethical corporate response, but the timeline and J&J actions were messier.
- Investigations showed supply-chain breaches and delays in nationwide recalls that undercut the heroic narrative.
Safer Tylenol Shelved To Avoid Admission
- J&J secretly developed a 'safer' Tylenol version but shelved it because selling it would admit prior danger.
- Company testimony framed ongoing infant-concentrated formulations as "the cost of doing business" rather than hazards to children.
