Safeway general counsel Robert Gordon found himself in hot water last week, after a joke he made at the companys annual meeting had him branded a sexist. Now, as part of the companys efforts to clean up the public-relations mess, Gordon and CEO Steve Burd have both sent formal letters of apology to the jokes powerful targets: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
The SF Gates Bottom Line blog posted the text of Burds letter to Clinton and Pelosi, which mentioned that Mr. Gordon has sent a letter of apology directly to both of you. Burd went on to offer his own act of contrition to the two women, writing:
The joke was inappropriate and I deeply regret that this has obscured the respect we hold for you and for your service to our nation. We intend to do all we can to prevent something like this from happening in the future.
The apologies from the supermarket-company executives may not have been entirely voluntary. George Millera Democratic congressman who represents California’s Bay Area, where Safeway is headquarteredled a delegation of local lawmakers in calling for the company to address the matter. According to the Gate, the congressional delegation demanded an apology to Pelosi and Clinton, among other corrective steps, for the shocking lack of respect, not only for two of the most important and respected people in our country but for all women. “
Millers office was not impressed with Gordons initial public apology, which said:
I sincerely apologize if the opening comments I made at the recent annual stockholders meeting offended anyone. As these comments have been interpreted, they are not a reflection of my personal beliefs or that of my employer. I understand how my comments have impacted others and I hope they will accept my apology.