Publix is now in hot water after news got out that Julie Jenkins Fancelli, heiress to the $15.2 billion Publix chain, funded the biggest portion of Trump’s rally on January 6th that ended in the deadly attack on our US Capitol, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Soon after the news broke, #BoycottPublix began trending across Twitter.
Charlotte residents were quick to join the trend and publically declare that they will no longer shop at the chain.
Here are just a few of the tweets from Charlotte residents:
#boycottpublix https://t.co/eOeg9t0nil
— J Todd (@llcooljmomma) January 31, 2021
@Publix I won’t be shopping with you anymore. I’ll have to drive farther but I’ll be going to @HarrisTeeter from now on. You can’t support an insurrection and get my money. #BOYCOTTPUBLIX
— S. Acrom (@s_acrom) January 31, 2021
I hate finding a new grocery store but I can’t support a company that supports an armed overthrow of our duly elected government! #BOYCOTTPUBLIX https://t.co/hzykuunx2M
— Meredith Sparkles (she / her) (@Mystrys69) January 31, 2021
@Publix i spend, on average, about $95 a week at your stores in Charlotte. Going to have to reconsider this after finding out that the heiress contributed and your actual donations to candidates that support the big lie. #BOYCOTTPUBLIX
— Swing State Hustler (@LillWicked) January 31, 2021
Y’all don’t know how much this hurts me to do but I can’t support a company that supports Trump and his rallys. Online order and grocery pickup from Publix was my favorite. But not anymore. 😭😭😭 #BOYCOTTPUBLIX
— Angel Hjarding (@AHjarding) February 2, 2021
Publix was quick to issue a public statement attempting to distance itself from the actions of its owners, saying:
“Mrs. Fancelli is not an employee of Publix Super Markets, and is neither involved in our business operations, nor does she represent the company in any way. We cannot comment on Mrs. Fancelli’s actions.
The violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a national tragedy. The deplorable actions that occurred that day do not represent the values, work or opinions of Publix Super Markets.”
Publix Statement regarding Julie Fancelli: pic.twitter.com/SLYEe3Je5a
— Publix (@Publix) January 31, 2021
but many in Charlotte still weren’t having it;
When a corporation has to denounce the actions & views of its CEO’s wife and daughter of its founder, then perhaps it is time to replace those people. This is no different than #PapaJohns #MyPillow #GoyaFoods & many others that support #WhiteSupremacy. #BoycottPublix
— GQ Lewis 💜💛 (@gqlewis) January 31, 2021
While Fancelli is not a direct employee of Publix, she is still significantly affected by their success or decline, as her family currently owns 20% of the company, which now has a market cap of $15.2 billion.
What do you think about the situation?