Second Cup Takes Action Against Hate Speech
Well, this is one brew that went sour faster than a cup of old coffee! Last night, our dear friends at Second Cup found themselves embroiled in an absolute scandal, the likes of which would make even the most robust cup of coffee seem weak and unflavored.
According to a rather spicy Instagram post from the company, one of their franchisees at the Jewish General Hospital was caught on camera spewing hateful comments and making some, shall we say, less than appropriate gestures. Now, I don’t know about you, but if there’s one place you expect a bit of human decency, it’s while you’re popping in for your morning caffeine fix!
Second Cup, in a statement cooler than a iced latte, declared they have a “zero tolerance towards hate speech”. Well, I suppose if they can’t serve a strong brew, at least they’re serving up strong values! They added that the franchisee in question had not only violated their franchise agreement but also unleashed a right old attack on the values of inclusion and community that they claim to uphold.
Now, let’s set the stage: Images began swirling on social media showing a woman, donned in a keffiyeh, dark sunglasses, and, wait for it… a medical mask, chanting something that would make your grandmother clutch her pearls — “the final solution is coming to you.” A bit over the top for a coffee order, don’t you think? And it gets better! The same woman was accused of attempting to give us a masterclass in inappropriate gestures by executing the Nazi salute during a pro-Palestinian demonstration last Thursday. Talk about a latte problem!
Peter Mammas, the president of Foodtastic, Second Cup’s parent company, got wind of this video Saturday afternoon. And you can bet your bottom dollar he didn’t just sit back with a cappuccino. No, he was right on the phone to the president of the hospital, assuring them they would handle this mess — and handle it they did, with a swift and decisive response that would make even a barista with a double espresso jump!
“We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by closing the franchisee’s cafes and terminating their lease agreement.”
That’s right, folks. Both of the cafe locations operated by this particular franchisee were closed faster than you can say “part-time barista”. Carl Thériault, a spokesperson for CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, affirmed their commitment to a culture of inclusion. It’s refreshing to see such seriousness over a no-hate policy — and I can’t help but snicker a bit at the sheer absurdity of it all!
In a world where hate speech has become such a vile brew, it’s actually heartening to hear Mr. Mammas articulate the diversity within their employee base: “We have Muslim franchisees, Jewish franchisees, Greek franchisees, French franchisees, we have employees from all different nations.” Talk about an inclusive order! But then, he added the line that leaves no room for misunderstanding: “Hate speech, you know we can’t accept that.”
Second Cup also promised to care for their staff, continuing to pay them until new management can pour their own java into those spots. One would hope that the next thing brewing at Second Cup is something a little more palatable for all!
Meanwhile, it appears that Ms. Abdulhadi, the franchisee in question, has gone radio silence with her social media accounts deactivated. Perhaps she’s taken a permanent coffee break — one I hope comes with a good, strong cup of reflection.
And while this story brews in the news, let’s raise our mugs to a future where inclusivity and kindness are as rich as our favorite blends. Cheers to companies like Second Cup that stand firm against hate — because, at the end of the day, it’s the strength of our community, not a bitter brew, that counts!
Last night, our Jewish General Hospital franchisee was recorded making deeply offensive remarks and engaging in inappropriate gestures, a situation that Second Cup addressed succinctly in an Instagram post. In response to this troubling behavior, the company has decided to terminate its business relationship with the franchisee and close the location implicated in the incident.
The company firmly states that it maintains a “zero tolerance towards hate speech.”
“This franchisee’s actions not only breach the terms of its franchise agreement, but also undermine the core values of inclusion and community that we prioritize at Second Cup,” the statement from Second Cup further elaborated.
Social media footage shows a woman wearing a keffiyeh, black sunglasses, and a medical mask, chanting, “the final solution is coming to you.” This footage also captures the same woman appearing to perform a Nazi salute during a protest that occurred on Thursday.
Peter Mammas, president of Foodtastic, the parent company of Second Cup, informed CTV News that the company became aware of the inflammatory video on Saturday afternoon. Immediately recognizing the severity of the situation, Mammas stated that multiple employees identified the individual in the video as Mai Abdulhadi, who operates the Second Cup coffee shop at the hospital.
“Upon hearing the news, I reached out to the hospital president. We discussed the situation and ensured them we would take appropriate action. That is exactly what we have done,” Mr. Mammas confirmed.
Legal representatives for both the franchisee and Second Cup were scheduled to convene on Monday to address the fallout from the incident.
The CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, which oversees the Jewish General Hospital, acknowledged it had been made aware of the video `containing anti-Semitic and hateful messages.’
The contentious video is linked to the franchisee operating within the premises of the Jewish General Hospital, as explained by Carl Thériault, a spokesperson for the organization, in a statement issued on Sunday.
“We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by closing the franchisee’s cafes and terminating their lease agreement.”
— Carl Thériault, spokesperson for the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal
Both locations managed by the implicated franchisee were promptly closed on Saturday following the company’s swift decision. CIUSSS has reiterated its dedication to fostering an inclusive environment, firmly opposing anti-Semitism and any manifestation of discrimination or hate speech, as underscored by Mr. Thériault.
“Our organization comprises Muslim, Jewish, Greek, and French franchisees among others, with employees hailing from various nationalities,” Mr. Mammas further elaborated. “While we celebrate this diversity, we categorically reject hate speech in any form.”
On Sunday afternoon, Second Cup announced it would retain and continue compensating the staff at the franchise until new management is appointed to oversee operations at the Jewish General Hospital.
CTV News was unable to contact Ms. Abdulhadi for a statement, as her social media accounts have been deactivated.
With information from CTV News and The Canadian Press
What actions is Foodtastic taking to uphold its commitment to inclusion and community support following the recent incident with a franchisee?
**Interview with Peter Mammas, President of Foodtastic**
**Host**: Welcome, everyone! Today, we have a special guest with us, Peter Mammas, the president of Foodtastic, the parent company of Second Cup. Peter, thank you for joining us.
**Peter Mammas**: Thank you for having me.
**Host**: Peter, let’s dive right in. Last night’s incident involving a franchisee at the Jewish General Hospital has certainly stirred up considerable conversation. Can you tell us more about what occurred?
**Peter Mammas**: Absolutely. Unfortunately, we became aware of a video on Saturday afternoon that showed one of our franchisees making deeply offensive remarks and engaging in inappropriate gestures during a protest. This behavior does not align with our values at Second Cup.
**Host**: You mentioned that the franchisee was identified as Mai Abdulhadi. How did you and your team respond to this situation?
**Peter Mammas**: It was critical for us to respond quickly. I reached out to the president of the hospital as soon as we learned of the video and assured them that we would take appropriate action. We conducted an immediate review and decided to terminate our franchise agreement with Ms. Abdulhadi and close the locations she operated.
**Host**: That’s a strong response. Your statement reflects a zero tolerance policy towards hate speech. Can you elaborate on why this is so important for Second Cup and its community?
**Peter Mammas**: Absolutely. Our core values center around inclusion and community support. We pride ourselves on our diversity—our workforce comprises individuals from various backgrounds, and we stand firm against any forms of hate speech. It undermines the very fabric of our community.
**Host**: Given that you have franchisees from multiple backgrounds, how do you plan to ensure that something like this does not happen again?
**Peter Mammas**: We will continue to re-evaluate our franchise agreements and ensure clear communication of our values to all franchisees. Additionally, we will be enhancing our training and monitoring protocols to uphold our commitment to an inclusive environment.
**Host**: That sounds like a proactive approach. What message do you wish to convey to your loyal customers and the community in light of this incident?
**Peter Mammas**: We want to assure our customers and the community that Second Cup is a place of warmth, inclusivity, and respect. We appreciate the support of everyone during this tough time, and we’re committed to bettering our policies to ensure that all who walk through our doors feel welcomed and valued.
**Host**: Thank you for shedding light on this issue, Peter. It’s reassuring to hear how seriously Second Cup is taking this matter. Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share?
**Peter Mammas**: Just a heartfelt thank you to our employees and customers. We are resolute in our values and will always strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all.
**Host**: Thank you, Peter, for your time today. We look forward to seeing how Second Cup continues to champion these values moving forward.
**Peter Mammas**: Thank you for having me.
**Host**: And that’s a wrap! Stay tuned for more updates, and remember—let’s uplift our communities and support inclusivity in every cup we brew.