Publications
Partners
- Chuck DeGrundel, the head of operations at Ava Lane Boutique in Auburn Hills, Michigan, US, learned a major lesson in the power of social media recently.
- He sent a nasty email to a prospective employee by mistake wherein he intended to ask his wife if he should interview the 21-year-old for a job at their store as he feels she is 'not that cute'.
- Chuck and his wife have since apologised on Facebook Live but he still reiterated that he felt she wasn't that cute and was unsure if they would want to hire her.
Chuck DeGrundel is the vice president of operations at Ava Lane Boutique in Auburn Hills and happens to be the owner's husband.
It all started when 21-year-old Gracie Lorincz applied for a brand representative job. Gracie took to TikTok to explain that Chuck had sent her an email meant for his wife.
The email read, "This girl is fresh out of college and not that cute. She applied to the sales model position are you sure you want me to interview her?"
READ MORE | 'Working from home with my boyfriend made me realise he's a workplace bully'
On the TikTok video, the clearly hurt Gracie shared, "And their motto is beauty through confidence, and this is the email I got from the VP. Not that cute, not that cute, okay."
The video went viral, getting 1,8 million views and thousands of likes, shares and comments.
Gracie's mom, Heather Lorincz, says her heart broke for her daughter, who was crushed after receiving the insulting email.
"It was embarrassing for her. It made her feel terrible," said Heather.
"She is a sweet kid, she is not an attention hog, she is not a social media personality and didn't anticipate what this turned into."
READ MORE | Woman goes viral after appearing on a BBC Wales interview with a sex toy on a bookshelf behind her
Gracie's TikTok struck a nerve with thousands of people who didn't have the kindest things to say to the Ava Lane Boutique owners - online and by phone.
In response, Chuck posted a tearful Facebook Live apology.
"And I didn't feel she was that cute," he said. "So I wasn't sure if I wanted to proceed with an interview. I don't know why I said that, but I did, and I am very, very sorry for saying that."
Both Chuck Degrendel and his wife Laura may have broken down in tears during the Facebook Live video.
But Heather Lorincz says she isn't convinced it was for the right reasons, mainly because it was never directed at her daughter.
"I don't want this woman's business to suffer," Heather Lorincz said. "I don't, but I feel like my daughter deserves a real apology, not a Facebook Live."
The couple has since said they have taken down their social media accounts due to an onslaught of comments regarding this issue.
Do you have a story to share with us? Tell us about it here.
Credit: Video by TCA
