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Unfortunately for tech CEO Michael Lofthouse, the world will remember him by this image. |
ASAM NEWS
Tech entrepreneur Michael Lofthouse confirmed to Fox Business that he has resigned from his position as CEO of Solid8 after his much publicized racist tirade against a Filipino American family.
The incident which occurred July 4 in the California coastal town of Carmel Valley went viral after Jordan Chan posted a video of the incident on social media.
“It is with regret that my initial statement and apology did not go far enough in addressing my behavior in Carmel last weekend and the steps that I need to take. I can confirm that I have stepped down from Solid8, terminating all business relationships with immediate effect,” Lofthouse said in his statement issued late Saturday (July 11).
“I will make it my duty to ensure my personal actions do not continue to have a detrimental impact on those people closest to me. I have once again begun my journey back to sobriety and have enrolled in an anti-racist program with immediate effect. My comments towards the families involved were racist, hurtful and deeply inappropriate. The reactions to what was said have been deserved and I wholeheartedly acknowledge that I am complicit in a system that enables this behavior and these broken beliefs to exist but I am dedicated to changing.”
Unfortunately for Lofthouse, despite his apology and resignation, the lasting image of the former CEO is him staring at the camera displaying the infamous one-finger salute to the family.
In an interview with AsAmNews, Raymond Orosa says Lofthouse has not reached out directly to his family. However, he told us earlier this week he hopes Lofthouse takes responsibility for his actions.
“Despite one bad apple, there’s so many good people around who will help you. As long as we all help each other the way they did, we can have a loud voice without any violence. It’s like one big family help us. That’s such an amazing feeling.”
The Orosa-Chan family was celebrating a birthday at Lucia restaurant at Bernardus Lodge & Spa when Lofthouse, unprovoked, blurted out ‘”You f*cking Asians. You f*cking Asians. Trump is going to F* you up,”
The stunned family pushed back, asking him what was wrong with him. “I’ve dealt with racism before but never on that scale,” Chan told KPIX 5. “Never on the level where somebody completely unprovoked felt obligated to voice their hatred for absolutely no reason.”
“Despite one bad apple, there’s so many good people around who will help you. As long as we all help each other the way they did, we can have a loud voice without any violence. It’s like one big family help us. That’s such an amazing feeling.”
The Orosa-Chan family was celebrating a birthday at Lucia restaurant at Bernardus Lodge & Spa when Lofthouse, unprovoked, blurted out ‘”You f*cking Asians. You f*cking Asians. Trump is going to F* you up,”
The stunned family pushed back, asking him what was wrong with him. “I’ve dealt with racism before but never on that scale,” Chan told KPIX 5. “Never on the level where somebody completely unprovoked felt obligated to voice their hatred for absolutely no reason.”
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The Chan-Orosa families in the midst of celebrating a birthday before the incident with Michael Lofthouse occurred. |
Lucia server Gennica Cochran intervened, telling Lofthouse that such behavior would not be tolerated. She told him he was not welcomed at the restaurant and told him to leave.
With hours of the video posting, netizens had learned his name and that he is from Great Britain, the name of his startup company and the firms Solid8 did business with, including Salesforce. Salesforce, in particular was urged to cut ties with Solid8.
The Internet also learned that this is not the first time, nor last time Lofthouse, displayed troubling behavior.
After the Carmel incident, he continued to attack those people who called him out for his. racist attitude.
The Internet also discovered that in 2016, Lofthouse was convicted of Vandalism and charged with Domestic Battery and Damage to a Telephone/Powerline. The last two charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal which resulted in Lofthouse being sentenced to two days in jail, three years of probation, community service and being issued a restraining order.
Lofthouse continued his apology by pleading for the Chan and Orosa families to accept his apology.
"To the Chan and Orosa families, Gennica Cochran and the restaurant Bernardus please accept my heartfelt and sincere apologies, I hope that the conversations and awareness that this incident has created can act as a catalyst for necessary change," he said.
"It is my commitment to you to overcome my issues and be part of the solution for an equal and compassionate future."
Views From the Edge contributed to this report.
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