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3 Old Navy employees fired after racial-profiling video goes viral

The internet called for their removal—and the company responded.

Photo of Tess Cagle

Tess Cagle

Old Navy

Three employees have been fired from Old Navy for racially profiling a Black man at an Iowa store.

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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.”

https://www.facebook.com/james.i.conley.9/posts/10157042735500898

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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.

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https://twitter.com/TtotheHeyeP/status/958516513467764736

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https://twitter.com/seinfeldisfunny/status/958703328787124225

Old Navy heard the customers loud and clear and released its own statement Saturday morning.

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“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.”

https://www.facebook.com/oldnavy/posts/10155088260692021

None of the fired Old Navy employees have publicly commented on the incident as of press time.

 
The Daily Dot