Additional Coverage:
- Campbell’s exec is out after rant mocking ‘poor’ customers, ‘3D-printed chicken’ goes viral (businessinsider.com)
Campbell’s VP Out After Alleged “3D-Printed” Chicken Remarks Go Viral
CAMDEN, NJ – Campbell’s has announced the departure of a vice president embroiled in a public controversy stemming from a lawsuit and a secretly recorded conversation. The recording allegedly captures the now-former executive, Martin Bally, making disparaging remarks about the company’s products, customers, and even its employees, going as far as to refer to Campbell’s chicken as “3D-printed.”
“The comments were vulgar, offensive and false, and we apologize for the hurt they have caused,” Campbell’s stated in a Wednesday press release. “This behavior does not reflect our values and the culture of our company, and we will not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances.”
The accusations against Bally first surfaced in a November 20 lawsuit filed in Michigan by Robert Garza, a former Campbell’s employee. Garza claims he was unjustly terminated after raising concerns about Bally’s conduct. As part of his complaint, Garza presented a secret recording of a conversation where Bally – then Campbell’s vice president of information technology – allegedly insulted the intelligence of “Indians,” belittled customers, and launched into a profane tirade against the company’s offerings.
“After a review, we believe the voice on the recording is in fact Martin Bally,” Campbell’s confirmed on Wednesday.
While the recording was provided to Business Insider by Garza’s law firm, its authenticity has not been independently verified. In a particularly jarring excerpt from the alleged conversation, the voice on the recording can be heard stating that Campbell’s products were “shit for fucking poor people” and “unhealthy.”
The individual also reportedly questioned, “Even in a can of soup – I look at it, and look at bioengineered meat. I don’t want to eat a fucking piece of chicken that came from a 3D printer, do you?”
Campbell’s swiftly refuted this characterization of its food, calling the description “patently absurd.”
Bally, who was initially placed “on leave,” is now “no longer employed by the company,” according to Wednesday’s statement.
The controversial remarks quickly ignited a firestorm across online platforms and even drew the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who indicated he would investigate the company in light of the state’s ban on lab-grown meat.
Campbell’s reported that it first became aware of the audio from the conversation on Thursday, the same day Garza filed his lawsuit. Bally has not yet responded to requests for comment.