Campbell’s on Wednesday announced executive Martin Bally was fired over alleged racist comments he made while claiming Campbell’s products were made for “poor people,” which emerged in audio included in a former employee’s lawsuit against the company.
Key Facts
Campbell’s said Bally, the vice president of information, was no longer employed by the company as of Nov. 25.
The canned soup brand reviewed an alleged recording of Bally and former Campbell’s employee Robert Garza, who accused Campbell’s of retaliation for raising complaints about Bally, and said they believed the voice in the audio is Bally, adding, “The comments were vulgar, offensive and false, and we apologize for the hurt they caused.”
Bally did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
What Is Bally Accused Of?
In audio reportedly included in a lawsuit filed Nov. 20, Bally can allegedly be heard saying Campbell’s makes “highly processed food” for “poor people.” Bally allegedly said, “We have s–t for f—ing poor people,” adding Campbell’s relies on “bioengineered meat” and that he doesn’t “[want to] eat a piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer.”
Garza also alleged Bally made racist comments about Campbell’s employees. In an earlier statement, Campbell’s defended the quality of its products, noting the chicken used in its soups comes from “long-trusted, USA-approved U.S. suppliers and meets our high quality standards.” The company also noted it does not use “3D-printed chicken, lab-grown chicken, or any form of artificial or bioengineered meat.”
This is a developing story.
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