Apple Procurement VP Departs Company After Vulgar TikTok Comment

[Enlightened Doggo]

Honestly, I never saw the Arthur movie he referenced, but in that light - yeah, I get it's just a joke. Maybe one that didn't go over so well, especially with all the people like myself who didn't catch the reference?

But when you work for a high profile company that's so worried about virtue-signaling already? You have to realize public comments like this mean you're about to lose your job. It sounds like this guy was a good price negotiator so I'm sure he'll be just fine and get hired on quickly at another company. They *all* like having people on board who can negotiate deals that clearly save them money.

Every corporation is like this now. They all have the same, soul sucking, vapid culture. They'll screw you over nothing and then look the other way when something actually bad happens to an employee. Forget seeking employment he should retire or go independent.

 

[PlayUltimate]

When you work for Apple, you don't get to be yourself in or out of the office. That's just the way it goes. You have to be the kind of person that enjoys "Ted Lasso" and walk around with a blank Tim Cook expression on your face at all times. You have to think that ketchup is spicy.

Being fired is probably a relief for this guy.

When you are in any public leadership position, you don't get to be yourself. CEO, well-paid executive, minister, teacher, politician, they are all under a watchful eye.

 

[jimbobb24]

Rightly shown the door. If he wants to talk like that in the privacy of his own home then that is his right. However he’s an Apple exec and talking like this in public brings the company into bad repute. I admire Apple for being decisive with stuff like this.

Here in the UK our Government staggers from one appaling sleaze scandal to the next yet no heads roll. The up shot? Corruption is now endemic. I’m glad to see a company I admire standing by its principles and kicking this goon into the long grass.

I think the company looks far worse firing a long time loyal employee than because someone made a joke. I like jokes. Scolds are no fun.

 

[sorgo †]

Too bad he couldn’t have his cake and eat it, too—but judging by his waistline maybe Apple did him a favor.

 

[Royksöpp]

What an idiot. If you’re a person of significance never say something controversial online, in public, or on camera. Keep it neutral. It’s PR 101.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Apple: We happily offer "Arthur" for sale or rent on our platform, but don't you dare quote it!

 

[vegetassj4]

It seems he got caught between the Moon and New York City.

I know, right. Seems kind of crazy, but alas it is true.

 

[jimbobb24]

That said people saying “he quoted a movie” surely realise a lot of movies were made with jokes that aren’t acceptable by todays standards.

We realize we live in an era of scolds. Every joke ever is still acceptable. Blazing Saddles said the n-word nearly as many times as a 2022 rap album…but it can still be funny if you aren’t so wound up by current outrage that every joke needs to go through a lens of “who could be offended by this”. Funny is about breaking down barriers and shock and surprise. What’s funny about conformity to “todays standards”?

 

[BC2009]

I totally get quoting a movie and laughing about it. Heck the woman he was with (his wife? his girlfriend?) was losing it laughing.

That would be well in good when you are with friends and just joking around quoting old movies and somebody sets you up and you knock-em down.

But when a stranger with a camera in your face sets you up and you know you are being recorded, you kinda need to think before you speak. This guy has people reporting to him at Apple -- many of which may feel uncomfortable around him after hearing him say what he said and having it go viral.

If he was with a bunch of friends and somebody caught it on camera and recorded him without his knowledge, then there is a lot more room for understanding. But when somebody put a camera in his face and asked him with his knowledge of being recorded, then he is responsible for his words being public.

It's not so much about "cancel culture" as it is about this statement undermining his ability to have people reporting to him at Apple.

 

[DocNo]

The guy was at a car show, NOT at a company event or representing Apple and he was quoting a movie?

I dont get why people give a ****.

Because people need something to be outraged at. Look at the people in the comments here who think he was serious and reflecting poorly on Apple. Seriously? We are clown show of a society

 

[Mr. Dee]

Even though it’s crude, we still believe in apologies and second chances in this world, right?

Steve got a second chance to fix Apple. What if Apple decided to have never done business with him again regardless of how good NeXT was? We wouldn’t have none of this stuff because the company would say he is probably the same Steve we fired in 85.

 

[Octavius8]

Should a company evaluate by personality or by professional merits?.
Crystal generation. He would do it anyway, just not so public, but the facts will remain. Is bad if people knows about it, but if kept hidden is no problem. But the facts happen the same….

 

[Tagbert]

Is he wearing a Union Flag shirt (UK flag)?

Looks like a Union Jack scarf

 

[rpmurray]

How about just not saying stupid ****?

You mean like your comment?

 

[boss.king]

Should a company evaluate by personality or by professional merits?.
Crystal generation. He would do it anyway, just not so public, but the facts will remain. Is bad if people knows about it, but if kept hidden is no problem. But the facts happen the same….

How is the obvious answer here not both? Unless you solely interact with machines, your personality is part of what you bring to the role. Especially as a c-level exec with 100+ people reporting to you.

 

[BC2009]

I don’t think that was a joke. He was just rubbing it in. Looking down on people surrounding you so not much of a joke. There’s a huge difference.

Just saying people on here be bragging about buying an iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB on launch day. I am sure there is somebody on MacRumors who cannot afford a $1600 iPhone that is thinking that posting the stats for your expensive Apple gear is just "rubbing it in" when in fact the poster is just excited and wanted to share. It is all relative. It is how you take it.

I think he was making a joke by (mis)quoting a movie. His friend thought it was hilarious and maybe he was showing off for her. However, he is responsible for his words going viral because he knew full well that he was being recorded. When you are being recorded and you manage a bunch of people you have to think of the people who report to you who might not find it hilarious and would actually feel uncomfortable working for you because of what you just said.

I don't fault him for having a bunch of money and having nicer stuff than me. I fault him for not thinking about his subordinates at work before quoting a sexist line from a movie.

I had a CEO once who ordered a new Ferrari. It so happened that the day that the dealership delivered the car to our office was the same day that a bunch of layoffs occurred. The timing was horrible. Made a lot of people very upset. It was not the CEO's intent, it just happened to be that was when the dealership finally got the car in and they brought it right over. It is really hard to infer intent because it is so clouded by our own perception and situation.

 

[sorgo †]

You mean like your comment?

Good one…

 

[swingerofbirch]

I'm sure his actual role at Apple was much more unsavory than what he said.

The world of going into developing countries and pitting contractors against each other while forcing them to say and appear to uphold all human rights and workers' standards cannot be a clean one.

No wonder he told a joke instead.

 

[jmgregory1]

For all those people who are complaining that it’s bad that companies (gov’ t’s and institutions) are punishing people for saying things like this - this is not new. Sure, more people are getting caught (on camera) saying stupid and harmful things that should cost them something for saying, but it’s not new that people are getting fired for these actions. In this particular case, given he’s old enough to be referencing something said in a movie that most people won’t either remember or be old enough to realize the reference in the first place, could have been done better. For example, he could have said, “in the words of the famous Arthur Bach, I…”. But even then, trying to be “funny” when you work for a company that could easily be harmed by your stupidity, tells me he probably isn’t the nicest of people and likely has gotten away with saying even worse things - especially as he was known for being tough negotiating.

 

[yustas]

His Ferrari-red shoes are cooler than that car, plus he is clearly discriminating against small-breasted women.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

jeez can’t even make a joke anymore . This world sucks

There’s a limit on what you should joke about it.
Being this a hot topic, he should have known better.
Joke or no joke, he lost his job, because he was dumb.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Apple's public image is pretty valuable, they use their power to protect it.
Not sure what you people don't understand about this.
I know you all love to hate on "cancel culture" and "woke" stuff but I think this is just something companies can legally do under capitalism. Nothing to do with progressive culture.

 

[CosmoCopus]

He shouldn’t loose his job over this. Crazy.

 

[alexandr]

Mercs aren't a rich man's cars

Lamborghini etc on the other hand

I know, but re-read your comment and try to see the humor

 

[alexandr]

He shouldn’t loose his job over this. Crazy.

Lose his job. Loose are the women he referenced in his comment.