OPINION:
So it was a scam.
On Monday, it was reported a gay pastor, Jordan Brown, who lives in Austin, Texas, decided to sue Whole Foods Market after he said he purchased a cake that read “Love Wins” and the word “Fag” was added. Whole Foods said they’d look into the case, but stood by their baker.
The internet was immediately abuzz with chatter that Mr. Brown’s claims were bogus, that the cake looked altered, and questioned why in Austin — which is known for its liberal outlook — would this sort of discrimination happen.
After the retailer investigated further, it issued a statement Tuesday saying Mr. Brown’s accusations “are fraudulent and we intend to take legal action against both Mr. Brown and his attorney.”
According Mr. Brown’s lawsuit, it says he didn’t notice the added word until he stopped at a traffic light and looked down at the cake, and that he didn’t alter it in any way. Mr. Brown then made a video of the cake, which showed a picture of the UPC label on the bottom and side of the box.
Whole Foods, after reviewing their security footage, said the cake did appear altered from its purchased state.
“After reviewing our security footage of Mr. Brown, it’s clear that the UPC label was in fact on top of the cake box, not on the side of the package,” the Whole Foods statement reads. “This is evident as the cashier scans the UPC code on top of the box, which you can view,” it said, linking to the footage.
To add insult to injury, apparently the baker who gave Mr. Brown the cake is a part of the LGBT community.
“We stand behind our bakery team member, who is part of the LGBTQ community, and we appreciate the team members and shoppers who recognize that this claim is completely false and directly contradicts Whole Foods Market’s inclusive culture, which celebrates diversity,” Whole Foods’ statement read.
According to a reporter from a local news station, Mr. Brown said he remembered the woman who wrote on the cake, and she was a “white Caucasian.”
“As a pastor, I forgive her. I’m praying for her that she would have a change of heart,” Mr. Brown told the local television station. “If we don’t take a stand for what is right, these things will continue to happen.”
Mr. Brown and his attorneys at Kaplan Law Firm couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
They should be ashamed.
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