Apple Executive Tony Blevins has been removed from the company after he left a sexist comment in an interview, where he allegedly objectified women's bodies.
A video of Blevins made its rounds on TikTok, setting off an uproar from users of the social media platform and starting an internal investigation at Apple, The Verge reports.
Vulgar Vice President Goes Viral and Jobless
In a video published on September 5, content creator Daniel Mac approached Blevins in his car and asked what his occupation was, just like the former normally does for his TikTok account.
Bloomberg explains that the video where crude remarks were made by the VP regarding women gained traction on social media and eventually caught Apple's attention, eventually leading to the decision to forgo the 22-year veteran.
Apple did not immediately respond to questions and calls urging them to take action about the situation. But they soon confirmed that Blevins was leaving the company and has apologized for his vulgarity, CNet writes.
During his time with Apple, Blevins was known to take charge of negotiations with suppliers and partners to give them better deals, saving the company millions, according to Apple Insider. Recently, Blevins worked with Apple and Globalstar to come up with an agreement for new security features.
Apple is Taking No 'Joke' Lightly Anymore
In his apology, Blevins confirms the incident saying, "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my mistaken attempt at humor."
The company has always been known to implement strict rules, but this is not the first time an employee of theirs has gone viral for problematic behavior.
According to The Verge, an internal document from Apple that they release to employees even says, "We want you to be yourself, but you should also be respectful in posts, tweets, and other online communications."
The previous CNet report also writes that the leading innovation company's integrity and ethics have been challenged in the past from people within the company, revealing that human resources do not take measures towards such behavior. However, Apple firing Blevins proves its commitment to supporting diversity by cultivating an inclusive and safe environment for women and minorities, addressing harmful language and behavior.
Furthermore, the previous Apple Insider report also states that this is not the first time Blevins' name has been thrown out. In 2020, a report called him a relentless and ruthless negotiator who 'bullies' his way into agreements.
In light of Blevins' departure, Jeff Williams, the company's Chief Operating Officer who also reportedly made the decision to let him go, is assuming his duties immediately.
However, the prior CNet story has reiterated that this problem is not only a problem at Apple, and that there are other companies facing the same controversy, including industry giants Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
These companies have established their power and influence over society and culture, and can easily manage to get away with offensive behavior in managing company culture if not called out to take accountability.
