Racist, viral Facebook post results in multiple firings

A viral Facebook post by Gerod Roth, an employee at Polaris Marketing Group (PMG) in Atlanta, has led to multiple firings and Internet outrage for its racist comments mocking a black child, according to Atlanta BlackStar.

Gerod Roth, known as Geris Hilton on Facebook, worked for PMG before being fired when the company uncovered racially charged comments posted publicly on his Facebook profile, according to BlackStar, which added that the initial post was made on September 16 and contained a picture of a co-worker’s black child.

The comments posted under the picture quickly became bigoted, targeting the young boy with racially charged language, BlackStar reported, showing that the post received dozens of comments, many referring to the young boy as “sambo” or slave. Emily Irene Red, a friend of Roth’s, commented: “I didn’t know you were a slave owner.” Subsequently, she was also terminated from her job for her racist comments, according to the article.

The posting and ensuing comments went viral, angering manysocial media users who soon contacted many of the commenter’s employers, the report stated.

Polaris President Michael Da Graca Pinto issued a statement on Facebook, which read in part: “ Myself and the entire PMG family in no way condones this kind of behavior and would never willingly associate with anyone who does. It has no place in the world,” before adding that Roth has been terminated.