No, it's realistic. If a manager at your workplace asks you to do something you don't like, you say "I don't want to do it", and they insist - you push back. Is it toxic and stupid that they did that? Yes. But companies get away with this shit because people don't push back.

Speaking up publicly after-the-fact is great too. It raises awareness and helps give a voice to people whose livelihood is tied up in a company they can't stand to support due to toxic working conditions. It helps raise awareness to C-suite execs that there may be a managerial issue causing it. It's a good step that some companies take in stride, and actually turn around to improve things. Time will tell if that's the case here.