Apple is in big trouble today after one of its stores in Melbourne, Australia, has been accused of racial profiling. A video posted on Facebook shows a group of African students outside the Apple Store speaking with an employee who was ordering them to leave.
According to the video, the employee stated that the security guards were concerned with the students being in the store because they could end up stealing something.
"These guys [security guards] are just a bit worried about your presence in our store. They're just worried you might steal something," according to the Apple staff member in the video.
The group of boys, six overall, are from Maribyrnong College in Australia. They said this is not the first time they have visited the area, but the first time they have been victimized by racial profiling.
One of the students who goes by the name Ese says he was shocked by the way he and his friends were treated, and as such, demands a public apology from Apple.
While Apple CEO Tim Cook has yet to apologize formally to the African students, the store manager did manage to do so after the students were accompanied by their principal, Nick Scott, back to the store that same day.
The report claims that Apple is looking into the incident right now. A spokeswoman for the company said Apple is committed to cultural diversity though she did not state if the employee or the security guards would be punished for their actions.
Ever since the video was posted on Facebook, several persons on various social media platforms have been up in arms about the incident. The video has caused a widespread backlash on the Web, all directed at Apple. Some folks are calling for the head of the security guards and the single employee while others are petitioning Apple to train its employees better.
This is the first time racial profiling has ever been reported to happen at an Apple Store. Let's hope this is the only time.
Photo: Christopher Neugebauer | Flickr
