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Smith's domestic violence signage stirs social media maelstrom
Too bad the restaurant's management won't step up to explain itself.
Smith's domestic violence signage stirs social media maelstrom
Last week, Smith’s Restaurant and Lounge, a Rittenhouse eatery, posted a chalkboard beer advertisement that made a pun out of sexual assault. “I like my beer like I like my violence … domestic.” The offensive comment was spotted and photographed by a passerby and uploaded to Philebrity.com. Within hours, a mass response occurred across Facebook. Women Against Abuse picked up the photo and shared it with the tagline “With neighbors like Smith’s, who needs enemies? Let’s stand up to violence, not exploit it.” A series of alarmed responses flooded the comment box, with many readers taking action by calling the establishment or writing letters and emails.
Jill McDevitt of West Chester’s Feminique Boutique also picked up the picture, spurring more of a call to action. Within a few hours of the photo’s Facebook debut, countless emails had been sent and even more had called the restaurant directly, demanding an apology and an explanation. Several suggested the restaurant make amends by sending a donation to Women Against Abuse’s iPledge campaign.
The immediate outcry and overflowing response thanks to social networking was remarkable, but only part of the story. According to Women Against Abuse volunteers, several phone calls to the manager revealed that the sign was actually written by a female employee who had recently been sexually assaulted. The manager told them this was how the female employee was coping. Still, he noted that she had been let go due to the offensive signage.
Social networking’s double-edged sword, however, means that while information can be obtained easily, it lacks credibility. Despite several calls and emails from CP since this morning, Smith’s Restaurant has failed to comment so far on the issue and the supposed explanations. “It’s all really rumor-y,” says McDevitt, “I don’t want to devalue her way of dealing with this but it [her message] seems really dangerous and misguided. What is the message, really?” Until further information can be obtained, the Facebook followers will continue to put pressure on the restaurant to make amends for the sign, no matter its intent.
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