Michael Lofthouse — the CEO of cloud computing firm solid8 — has issued an apology for unleashing a racist rant against an Asian family at the Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley.
“My behavior in the video is appalling,” he said in a written statement obtained by local news station KGO-TV. “This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments. I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family.
“I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel. I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day,” he continued.
Earlier this week on Instagram, Jordan Chan posted a shocking video that shows Lofthouse flipping off her and her family, and telling them, “Trump’s gonna ---- you.”
He added, “You ------- need to leave! You ------- Asian piece of ----!”
Prior to the recording of the video, Chan says Lofthouse — who she described as a “white supremacist” — began “yelling disgusting racist remarks at us” after she and her family began singing “Happy Birthday” to her “tita.”
Though it was not caught on video, Chan alleges Lofthouse told the family, “---- you Asians,” “Go back to whatever ------- Asian country you’re from,” and “You don’t belong here.”
As seen in the clip, Lofthouse is then kicked out of the establishment by Gennica Cochran, a waitress at the restaurant.
“You need to leave right now. Get out. You are not allowed here. Get out now! You do not talk to our guests like that,” Cochran is heard exclaiming at Lofthouse. “They are valued guests; you are not allowed here ever again!”
Cochran, who has worked in hospitality for 20 years and has been teaching yoga for 10 years, later told KGO-TV on Wednesday, “I felt very protective of [the family].”
“You don’t come in here and say those kinds of things to people. Especially people feel so raw coming out of quarantine,” Cochran continued. “Most of these people, this is the first time that they’ve been out to dinner and then you have someone attacking them. It was just no, no, I don’t have time for this.”
This week, a GoFundMe was created for Cochran, who “spoke out with a passionate fury against this man, possibly putting her job on the line amidst an economic crisis in order to fight back against just a taste of the racism that is running rampant in our country.”
“Thank you Gennica and let’s all keep fighting the good fight!” Jeremy Stephens, the creator of the fundraiser, added.
As of this writing, the GoFundMe has raised over $66,000, which “will go to [Cochran] directly.”
According to the International Business Times, Lofthouse is believed to be an immigrant from the U.K. and reportedly has an Asian sister-in-law and a half-Asian niece.
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