Sun 7 Mar 2010 03:06
CVB drops hospitality executive’s contract over Michelle Obama email
Posted by: MalcontentCategories: The First Frump
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Comparing Michelle Obama (original untouched photo) to a chimpanzee is an insult to all chimpanzees.
I’m horrified for the chimpanzees.

Please Michelle, don’t eat me!
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau has decided to drop its contract with Walt Baker’s marketing firm over the hospitality executive’s email comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee.
“On behalf of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, I want to publically apologize for the offensive email sent yesterday by Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker,” CVB President Butch Spyridon said in a statement this afternoon. “As a recipient of the email, I am embarrassed for both my organization and myself. The content is deeply hurtful to all in our city and beyond. The attitudes expressed in the email are both appalling and unacceptable, and are not shared or condoned in anyway by the NCVB or by me personally.
“Nashville’s hospitality industry has worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment for our visitors and this behavior discredits the work done by so many. After serious consideration, the NCVB has made the decision to terminate its contract with Mr. Baker’s marketing agency, Mercatus Communications. I have communicated this action and my deep regrets about the email to the Mayor’s Office and other hospitality industry leaders.”
Baker is CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association. He apologized in an email to Metro Council members Saturday, suggesting that he had been misinterpreted:
“Thursday night I spontaneously forwarded – to a small group of people – an email that had been sent to me as political humor,” Baker wrote. “As I forwarded it, I did not think or consider its implications, other than that it was political humor. I am saddened that anyone misinterpreted the sentiments behind the email. I deeply apologize to anyone who is offended by this action. I hope that those who know me realize that the message was not intended to be malicious or hurtful in any way and can find it in their hearts to forgive me.”











