The owner of Drakes Supermarkets, a prominent grocery chain in South Australia, has issued a strong statement condemning the racist abuse directed at a junior employee. This backlash followed a social media post promoting an ongoing competition, where the featured staff member faced an onslaught of over 50 racist comments and memes.
John-Paul Drake, the chain’s owner, did not hold back in his response, characterising the offenders as “keyboard warriors” who hide behind fake accounts to spew hate. He made it clear that this unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated, stating, “I said, ‘F— off’.” He pledged to protect his team and reiterated his commitment to their well-being.
Drake acknowledged that his high public profile makes him susceptible to scrutiny, yet he emphasised that personal attacks on his staff cross a line. “You want to have a go at me? I understand I’m a business leader, and I’m put out there in the media; I’m fair game,” he stated, reinforcing that his staff should not be targets of such vitriol.
In response to the incidents, Drakes Supermarkets has removed the offensive comments while keeping the original post online with the consent of the impacted employee, who has expressed interest in continuing with future promotions. Drake also indicated he would consider legal action against the perpetrators if their identities could be uncovered, stating, “This really pisses me off,” and underscoring the importance of defending his team against such abusive behaviour.
Drake’s passionate defence of his employee highlights a growing intolerance for racism and a commitment to creating a supportive workplace environment.