DURHAM, N.C. _ The owner of Joe Van Gogh coffee company has apologized for its handling of a situation at its Duke location, where two baristas were fired after a university vice president complained about profanity-laced rap music playing at the shop.
Robbie Roberts, the coffee shop owner, posted an apology on Twitter on Wednesday after the employee firings had made national news. He said the business was taking steps "to remedy this matter," but did not elaborate, saying that company personnel issues are private.
"Joe Van Gogh apologizes to our employees, customers and community for how we handled a situation involving our Duke University store," Roberts wrote. "As you have read, it is true that Joe Van Gogh is a contractor to Duke. We attempted to understand Duke's position in this case, but we should have taken a different approach in making personnel decisions. As the owner of the business, I take full responsibility for Joe Van Gogh's actions. I apologize to all of the people directly involved and those who have been touched or offended, of which there are many."
Duke also released a statement on Wednesday that included Roberts' apology:
"We appreciate Mr. Roberts' statement and his commitment to remedy the matter with the individuals involved, and regret the pain this incident caused to those who look to Duke to uphold the highest values of fairness and equity to all members of our community," the statement on Duke Today read.
The firings of two employees, Britni Brown and Kevin Simmons, was first reported by Indy Week.
Duke's vice president of student affairs, Larry Moneta, stopped by the shop Friday for a hot tea and vegan muffin and complained about the song playing. It was "Get Paid" by Young Dolph, with a refrain that included the N-word along with an expletive sprinkled throughout the song.
In a statement Tuesday to The News & Observer and The Chronicle at Duke, Moneta said it was Joe Van Gogh's decision to dismiss the employees. He said he expressed his objections to the staff and reported the incident to the head of Duke's dining services.
"The employees who chose to play the song in a business establishment on the Duke campus made a poor decision which was conveyed to the JVG management," Moneta wrote. "How they responded to the employees' behavior was solely at their discretion."
The treatment of the Joe Van Gogh employees has touched off anger at Duke and the coffee business, which has a contract to operate the campus location.
Meanwhile, protesters gathered at the coffee shop Wednesday afternoon in support of the baristas. One of the fired baristas, Britni Brown, attended the protest.
Protesters moved from the coffee shop to Moneta's office, playing "Get Paid."
Moneta is responsible for overseeing student services including: housing, dining, health care, career services, student activities, cultural centers, and event and media services, according to the university's website.
Rapper Young Dolph also has a song "In Charlotte" on his album "Bulletproof" in which he raps about allegedly dodging 100 bullets while in Charlotte during the CIAA tournament in 2017.
