Kind of a weird premise. CEOs have always used their wealth and corporations to wield political power.
Now, their employees and customers are demanding public stances on social/political issues that aren't directly related to the company bottom line.
The statements earlier this week from Coca-Cola, Delta, and MLB relating to Georgia's voting restrictions come to mind.
People in other parts of the world seem to be aghast at what's happening in the U.S. because either a) they've tried on these kinds of political systems themselves and fled them in horror or overturned them already, or b) they see it as theater because all of the recommended actions are superficial or actively harmful.
The term "Outrage-Industrial Complex" is so apt here.
Even the unwashed plebes using the power of the purse to influence policy isn't new. Lest we forget the original BDS against South Africa. You don't play Sun City[0]. You don't buy gasoline from Shell.[1]
"Strangely" pearl clutching is only involved with the much less effective later, never the much more effective former.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_City_(song) [1] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-04-12-me-3593-s...