Regarding our item yesterday on the supposed “hate cake” from the Austin, TX Whole Foods—yup, it was a complete fraud. Whole Foods has released the following security camera footage showing the complainant, the “Rev.” Jordan Brown, checking out with the cake at Whole Foods, where the top of the cake was clearly visible through the cellophane window (Brown turns up at the lower right late in this one-minute video). [UPDATE: For some reason Whole Foods has taken down the video. I suspect their legal counsel may be behind this move, but I also suspect it will reappear someday. For now I’m going to leave the placeholder here. UPDATE 2: A new, shorter version that works has been posted. Who knows if it will stay up.]
Whole Foods is planning to sue Mr. Brown and his lawyer, noting that the video Brown posted yesterday alleging the hate speech clearly lied about where the UPC scanning label was placed, which can also be made in the video above when the checker scans the top of the cake box:
“After a deeper investigation of Mr. Brown’s claim, we believe his accusations are fraudulent and we intend to take legal action against both Mr. Brown and his attorney,” the company said in the statement.
The retailer said Monday in response to Brown’s claims that their bakery team member wrote “Love Wins” at the top of the cake. This, the retailer recounted on Tuesday, was visible to Mr. Brown through the clear portion of the packaging.
“That’s exactly how the cake was packaged and sold at the store,” the company said. “Whole Foods Market has a strict policy that prohibits team members from accepting or designing bakery orders that include language or images that are offensive.”
The retailer went on to say Brown admitted that he was in sole possession and control of the cake until he posted his video, which showed the UPC label on the bottom and side of the box.
“After reviewing their security footage of Mr. Brown, it’s clear that the UPC label was in fact on top of the cake box, not on the side of the package,” Whole Foods said. “This is evident as the cashier scans the UPC code on top of the box. . .”
Clearly the Rev. Brown must have flunked out of Rev. Sharpton’s school of shakedowns. Over at The Federalist, Mollie Hemingway explains “5 Tips for a Successful Social Justice Warrior Cake Hoax.”
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