You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[Cecil Terwilliger]

They’ve been outspoken Freedumb supporters for a while apparently. This should come as no surprise.

[SportsJunky]

I saw a truck this afternoon that had a sticker that read "Earth is not a globe" and then cited a verse from the book of genesis. My first flat earther! I think...

I desperately tried to meet his eye as I passed him but he wasn't cooperating.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I saw a truck this afternoon that had a sticker that read "Earth is not a globe" and then cited a verse from the book of genesis. My first flat earther! I think...

I desperately tried to meet his eye as I passed him but he wasn't cooperating.

You're the one encouraging distracted driving...who is the real villain here?

[DownInFlames]

Lots of places are saying they won't sell Valbella products anymore. Hopefully Jeff learns something from this and doesn't just chalk it up to cancel culture like so many other people who get called out on this ####.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Locke

You're the one encouraging distracted driving...who is the real villain here?

I just wanted him to see the joy he had given me.

[Locke]

You know, if you have a genuine, heartfelt belief in something, for whatever reason and they came calling for donations you could have just expressed a polite 'No Thank You' without batcrap insane follow up.

Even if your beliefs...I'm not going to get into them because calling them 'unfounded' is an insult and disservice to 'foundations' but whatever they are, you can have them, but maybe...just maybe, shout them at the top of your lungs internally. Little internal monologue.

Serenity Now.

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Chantal, wrote an apology and said that he's no longer with them...

That 'apology' was a lesson in how not to do crisis PR/communications.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Lots of places are saying they won't sell Valbella products anymore. Hopefully Jeff learns something from this and doesn't just chalk it up to cancel culture like so many other people who get called out on this ####.

Yes I’m sure he’s feeling extremely contrite and is ready to completely change his world view for the better.

Fully expecting WOP/POW Pizza moron to hold a Valbella support rally today.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

We are to address everyone as members now, I helped that member with the issues, no more users, employee, etc.

Very silly but taken very serious so I play the game. These days its seems like HR isn't here for us but here to find examples to deal with. Looking for excuses to get rid of people rather than reasons like a sacrifice to the woke gods.

Makes me sad when we had a company breakfast last week and up the elevator one of the older guys says hey give me a sausage, I couldn't resist "I've got a sausage you can have" There is only a few people from one dept I would even consider saying that to or even in earshot.

and I'm glad I don't have to hear those stupid jokes in the workplace any more.

[psyang]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

That 'apology' was a lesson in how not to do crisis PR/communications.

It sounded like a good apology to me (under the circumstances). Just curious how else it could be done?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by psyang

It sounded like a good apology to me (under the circumstances). Just curious how else it could be done?

Yeah, it at least sounded like a normal person doing their best to mitigate the damage. You can't really expect a partnership agreement to dissolve in the span of, like, two hours. If this guy is a director/owner/shareholder, lawyers and accountants need to get involved big time to sever the tie and that will take time. Will they do that? Who knows.

I'd rather an average Joe put out a somewhat reasonable apology - which is what this was for now - versus one of those nauseating lame-ass PR-company apologies.

To really mitigate the fallout and atone, they're going to need to go further, but on day one we at least have an acknowledgment and repudiation of the incident with claimed consequences for the author of the email.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by psyang

It sounded like a good apology to me (under the circumstances). Just curious how else it could be done?

It came off as a stock corporate apology letter that they copied and pasted from some google search and fails to consider the facts and the potential issues people would have with the apology; namely, how does one just terminate the "owner" of a small business? this isnt some employee, its the acting president of a privately held family company.

How does this solve the problem? does he truly face any repercussions?

[KTrain]

They followed up last night by saying their parents are still officially the owners of the company and that their son (Jeff) is the President.

With many of their corporate customers distancing themselves from the company, they're going to have a difficult time recovering from this.

That said, the daughter who made the statement is also a Freedom Convoy / anti-masker so it wouldn't surprise me if she shares similar views as her brother.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Sliver

versus one of those nauseating lame-ass PR-company apologies.

that's exactly what it was, they used corporate_apology_template.docx. who refers to their brother and co-owner as a "team member" or "one person" that does not reflect the values of the company? he basically is the company, this isn't a bad apple gone rogue. even if the sister doesn't share the same opinions (doubtful), at the very least he's been allowed to run things for the past few years while putting his idiocy on display in the past with convoys, anti-mask etc.

if they really want to prove they're sorry and want to change, they'll make a big ass donation to Canmore Pride, and maybe even meet with them to start their long journey out of Intoleranceville. but most likely they'll just do the WOP/POW double down and crusade against woke libs that cancelled their business.

The owners and leadership of Valbella Gourmet Foods expresses its deepest apologies to the Canmore LBGTQ+ community for an intolerant email that was sent earlier today by one of our former team members.

The individual responsible has been removed from the company and its operations.

Please accept our sincerest apologies to the entire community and know that the words of the one person do not reflect the opinions of the many people who work as part of the Valbella team. On the contrary, we strive to make our company an inclusive workplace where all are welcome.

We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused to the LGBTQ+ community and will be working to ensure our company advances the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our business and the community.

Chantal von Rotz
Valbella Gourmet Foods

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

that's exactly what it was, they used corporate_apology_template.docx. who refers to their brother and co-owner as a "team member" or "one person" that does not reflect the values of the company? he basically is the company, this isn't a bad apple gone rogue. even if the sister doesn't share the same opinions (doubtful), at the very least he's been allowed to run things for the past few years while putting his idiocy on display in the past with convoys, anti-mask etc.

if they really want to prove they're sorry and want to change, they'll make a big ass donation to Canmore Pride, and maybe even meet with them to start their long journey out of Intoleranceville. but most likely they'll just do the WOP/POW double down and crusade against woke libs that cancelled their business.

Yeah, well why wouldn't you use a template? We all would as a starting point, but it's still clear it wasn't a wordsmith or PR pro who wrote the statement, but rather an average Joe. Get as mad as you want about it, but they acknowledged the problem, apologized and claimed to have removed that person from the operations. It's a reasonable starting point IMO.

I think the guy's email to the Pride people was as abhorrent as everyone else does. I'm only saying getting mad at the initial apology is weird since it wasn't that bad for amateurs.

[OptimalTates]

Referring to your son, who stylized himself as owner and was actually president, as "former team member" and not part of the "leadership" shows that they were trying to downplay the situation and not make a sincere apology. Decent PR as expected by savvy business owners, but that's it.

There's no way out though except a hefty donation to Canmore Pride and I bet that will be a tough pill to swallow for the entire family lol.

[you&me]

People keep suggesting a donation to Canmore Pride.

Is that putting your money where your mouth is, or buying your way out of a problem?

Either way, I doubt the people most upset about this will forgive and forget so easily.

[Sliver]

Yeah, as if a big donation would help at all at this point. It would look like a bribe, I bet Pride would turn it down, and it would make things worse. Honestly, best thing they could probably do now is just STFU.

[jayswin]

Wow, I didn't actually read the email until now. People can have abhorrent views and still have a business, but yeah once you spread pure hatred like that publicly (yes, an email response to a request like that is a public response as you've given to someone who's allowed to display it) as a business owner (or whatever position they're pretending he's in/not in now to stop the bleeding) you deserve everything you get.

And it sounds like the sister is a freedom/QAnon believer, too. These people are so far gone, it's crazy. It's insane watching them be so wrapped up in hate rooted conspiracy bull**** that they'll literally destroy their own successful businesses just to "take a stand".

[jayswin]

I think part of the problem too is social media bubbles. These dumbasses live online and in their interaction they truly believe that like half or more of the population is on their side, and then when they say something stupid they end up getting some short term support from the freedom crowd, giving a false sense that they can make it as a "freedom business".

Then the freedom crowd shuffles away after a week or two and they start sinking like a rock.