Three employees have been fired from Old Navy for racially profiling a Black man at an Iowa store.
James Conley III shared a picture and four videos from Snapchat on his Facebook page Tuesday evening, and said he was accused of stealing the jacket that he wore into the West Des Moines store.
“Today I was racially profiled by the Old Navy store in West Des Moines, Iowa in Jordan creek,” Conley wrote in his post, which has now been shared over 150K times. “I was accused that I didn't pay for my blue bubble jacket that I got for Christmas that I wore into the store. As I was checking out to purchase some hoodies, I was asked if I wanted to also purchase the jacket that I was wearing.”
As the videos went viral, many called out Old Navy and said the store should take responsibility for its employees' actions. Some said the employees should be fired.
@OldNavy - Go get your PR girl before she digs your grave any deeper. Marking FB comments that contain a screenshot of blatant racism as "spam"? Shows how "disheartened" you really are. #racist #oldnavy pic.twitter.com/Uv7tmhHCIM
— Sheena (@SheenaTheSavage) January 31, 2018
@OldNavy Beau Carter, manager of your Jordan Creek location, and Shannon Plagman, along with the other girl ringing up the jacket need to lose their jobs, regardless of tenure. Racial profiling is unacceptable. GAP, Inc has been sued before for this - going for a 2nd? #racist pic.twitter.com/x0QVYjwOb9
— Sheena (@SheenaTheSavage) January 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/TtotheHeyeP/status/958516513467764736
@ShannonPlagman so we're hearing that your employees at the Jordan Creek old navy are racially profiling black customers? And you have knowledge of this incident with James Conley and you haven't said anything wow you sure do a good job at being in charge lmfao
— ComedianDariusD (@Darius89twitt) January 31, 2018
Your employees not one but more than one racially profiled a young black man .He was humiliated and didn't get an apology. Is this what you are teaching your employees in meetings??? I won't be shopping at an old navy in Texas , Iowa or any other state for that matter
— Le'Don Tristan (@LeDonTristan1) January 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/seinfeldisfunny/status/958703328787124225
Old Navy heard the customers loud and clear and released its own statement Saturday morning.
“The situation was a violation of our policies and values, and we apologize to both Mr. Conley and to those we’ve disappointed,” the statement said. “All of our customers deserve to be treated with respect. Following a thorough investigation of the incident, three employees who were involved have been terminated. We take this matter—and every conversation around equality— very seriously.”
None of the fired Old Navy employees have publicly commented on the incident as of press time.
