Rouses Supermarket is responding to criticism over a photo that surfaced online, showing co-owner Donald Rouse Sr. at a rally for President Donald Trump near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Patrons at the Acadiana location were not phased by the post.
It’s business as usual at Rouses in Lafayette, where several customers didn't want to make any comments about the social media post. However, online there is a lot of backlash.
The initial tweet showing Rouse and the company's former HR director has received over 4,000 engagements since it was posted Wednesday night.
Donald Rouse, Sr. (right), the co-owner of the Louisiana-based grocery chainstore Rouses Markets, and former Rouses HR Director Steve Galtier traveled to DC to protest election, according to a public post on Galtier's FB.
— Lamar White, Jr. (@LamarWhiteJr) January 7, 2021
He claims they were alongside "millions" of "patriots." pic.twitter.com/x0pDw62oBH
Rouses' social media pages were slammed with boycott messages and comments calling them traitors, while others said they would continue to patronize the stores.
Tonight the company is responding.
Donald Rouse Sr. says he attended the rally as a supporter of the president and left before the violence started.
He says he was “shocked and saddened” by the events that transpired after the rally.
Rouse says the violence and destruction does not represent the nation's values, nor the values of Rouses.
This is one of many locations across the state. In New Orleans, Mardi Gras Krewe “Krewe of Red Bean" says they will be returning $20,000 dollars to Rouses for a custom designed float house and donation to their Lundi Gras celebration.
READ MORE: Rouses co-owner releases statement on attendance at US Capitol rally
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