#JimmyJohns trend after White employees make noose out of bread dough to mock lynching of Black Americans
Jimmy John's, an American franchised sandwich fast-food restaurant, began trending on social media late on Sunday, July 5, after three White workers at one of its chain fashioned a noose out of dough in an apparent attempt to mock Black lynchings. After multiple Twitter users called out the fast-food chain, it initially released a statement, saying that it was investigating the incident. An update later stated that the employees involved were terminated.
The company, in a statement, on Twitter said: "We have zero tolerance for racism and discrimination in any form. We take these matters seriously, and the independent owner has launched an investigation into the video." The eatery later updated its statement writing: "We have zero tolerance for racism or discrimination in any form. The franchisee has taken immediate action and the employees have been terminated. The actions seen in this video are completely unacceptable and do not represent the Jimmy John's brand."
A video of the workers at a Jimmy John's in Woodstock, Georgia, showed three White men, with one taking a video and two creating a noose out of dough and putting around one of their necks. You can watch the video here
Multiple social media users shared the video, which has gone viral, and slammed the workers, asking the fast-food chain to investigate the issue and fire the people involved. The requests for their termination were made before the eatery chain fired the employees. One of the Twitter users wrote: "This happened in Woodstock, GA, at a #JimmyJohns. White employees decided to make a noose out of bread dough, to mock the lynching of Black Americans. According to a rep at the store, the employees and the manager were fired."
While another said: "I hope @jimmyjohns takes combatting racism even more seriously than their sandwich delivery. They’ve got employees on video making dough nooses and trivializing the murder of Black people across the country #BlackLivesMatter."
"In Woodstock, GA at a Jimmy Johns, some white employees made a noose, look at the DETAILS in the damn noose dough that’s used for sandwiches. Crazy. They done this before...." a third wrote. "Disgusting behavior. These racist employees at jimmy johns made a noose with dough I’m waiting to see if they got fired !!!!!!!"
Many Twitter users also pointed out that the owner of the franchise allegedly hunts and kills endangered animals as others shared pictures of him on hunts. "Yeahhhhhh this is pretty disgusting in all ways. jimmy johns is literally nasty anyways LMAO and they’re owner likes to hunt endangered animals or somethin like that right? like he was the one with the dolphins," one user wrote. "Jimmy Johns owner is also a large exotic animal trophy hunter. I would never eat there. Now this!" another added.
There were others who pointed out that the founder Jimmy John Liautaud is also a Trump supporter. "Just reminder that the idiot that founded Jimmy Johns is a trumper, who also likes to "sport hunt" rare and endangered animals. How small is your penis, Jimmy?"
"Absolutely disgusted, I used to be a Jimmy Johns fan, but guess who won't be ordering from them in the future. I'm stopping my orders and deleting their app freaky fast," a Twitter user wrote.