CHARLOTTE — Some customers told Channel 9 they’re bailing on security company CPI after the company’s CEO, Ken Gill, made what many consider a racist statement to an activist in the wake of the protests happening across the country after the death of George Floyd.
The controversy began when Gill responded to an email from a Charlotte activist, telling him to “spend your time in a more productive way."
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"Please spend your time in a more productive way ... a better use of time would be to focus on the black-on-black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men,” Gill wrote.
The Panthers, Hornets, and others have cut ties with CPI and now, some customers say they want to walk away as well.
A north Charlotte man, Warren, asked Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke not to use his last name but said he’s been a CPI customer for 10 years.
"The way I am today, the protests, I totally support Black Lives Matter. I can’t support their (CPI) business anymore," he said.
Other customers voiced similar views.
One tweeted, "Changing to @ADT tomorrow." Another posted, "Cancelling my service first thing in the morning." And another wrote, "I have CPI. I guess that will be changing.”
Often, it's an easier call for customers to boycott a business. But CPI customers have contracts, so jumping ship could cost them. Warren said in his case, he'd have to pay more than $300.
"I may eventually just have to pay the money because I am that adamant about not doing business with them anymore," he told Stoogenke.
Gill apologized and the company did too, saying CPI “stands against racism and discrimination of any kind. We take a great deal of pride in our inclusive culture.”
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