This was the plan the entire time. 1) Announce changes that are even harder to stomach than the bad ones you have planned. 2) Wait for fallout. 3) Backtrack

This was the plan the entire time. 1) Announce changes that are even harder to stomach than the bad ones you have planned. 2) Wait for fallout. 3) Backtrack and say "we're listening". 4) Roll out the bad (but not that bad) plan you had in mind the whole time. 5) Customers will be annoyed but relieved. It's right in the enshitification playbook.