Bwana
09-29-2012, 09:09 AM
The president of Livingston-based Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream, which runs a plant in Billings, offered to resign Friday following social-media fury over a one-sentence Facebook response.
Although he insists he meant nothing derogatory, Wilcoxson’s president Matt Schaeffer, of Livingston, offered to step down to save the company from fallout over his response to a Muslim customer who asked if the company used any gelatin containing pork in its ice cream.
The meltdown started the evening of Sept. 21 when a man in Sheridan, Wyo., posted a Facebook comment about Wilcoxson’s “cookies and cream” flavor ice cream containing gelatin.
“Does it contain pork? I am a Muslim and love your ice cream and when I read it today I was shocked. I look forward to you writing me back. Thank you. If possible, if it does have pork gelatin please tell me what flavors do so I can avoid them thanks again. ”
Schaeffer said he was tired that night, was responding to a series of posts and only read to the “pork” part of the sentence before clicking on the writer’s Facebook page where he saw a map of Pakistan and quickly wrote this response:
“We don’t deliver outside of Montana, certainly not Pakistan.”
Schaeffer said he didn’t see the address of Sheridan, Wyo., because he didn’t read that far.
“There was a map on his Facebook page with a map of Pakistan, with a balloon in the center. I presumed he was sending this from Pakistan,” Schaeffer said.
The commenter took offense and wrote:
“What are u talking about!!??? I think.ur comment is rude to assume I live in Pakistan.”
The man said “just because of your ignorance, I wont buy your ice cream and definitely wont recommend it.”
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/facebook-trouble-for-a-montana-company/article_d7101c11-0010-5cae-b40c-39b2a909ac82.html
Although he insists he meant nothing derogatory, Wilcoxson’s president Matt Schaeffer, of Livingston, offered to step down to save the company from fallout over his response to a Muslim customer who asked if the company used any gelatin containing pork in its ice cream.
The meltdown started the evening of Sept. 21 when a man in Sheridan, Wyo., posted a Facebook comment about Wilcoxson’s “cookies and cream” flavor ice cream containing gelatin.
“Does it contain pork? I am a Muslim and love your ice cream and when I read it today I was shocked. I look forward to you writing me back. Thank you. If possible, if it does have pork gelatin please tell me what flavors do so I can avoid them thanks again. ”
Schaeffer said he was tired that night, was responding to a series of posts and only read to the “pork” part of the sentence before clicking on the writer’s Facebook page where he saw a map of Pakistan and quickly wrote this response:
“We don’t deliver outside of Montana, certainly not Pakistan.”
Schaeffer said he didn’t see the address of Sheridan, Wyo., because he didn’t read that far.
“There was a map on his Facebook page with a map of Pakistan, with a balloon in the center. I presumed he was sending this from Pakistan,” Schaeffer said.
The commenter took offense and wrote:
“What are u talking about!!??? I think.ur comment is rude to assume I live in Pakistan.”
The man said “just because of your ignorance, I wont buy your ice cream and definitely wont recommend it.”
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/facebook-trouble-for-a-montana-company/article_d7101c11-0010-5cae-b40c-39b2a909ac82.html