Sometimes, technology can be a bad thing — especially when you use it for the wrong reasons. A McDonald’s worker learned that the hard way when he was fired after filming an assault in a Baltimore McDonald’s and then uploading it to YouTube.
The video, which made lightening-quick rounds in cyberspace, caused McDonald’s to draw sharp criticism for not stepping in to stop the attack. In a corporate statement released shortly after the attack, McDonald’s said it was “shocked by the video from a Baltimore franchise,” and called the incident “unacceptable, disturbing and troubling.” They added, “We are working with the franchisee and the local authorities to investigate this matter.”
The former employee, identified as Vernon Hackett, posted the video to his YouTube page. Not only was there outrage over the fact that this employee filmed the attack instead of interceding, but there was also concern that this may be a hate crime. The victim of the beating, 22-year old Chrissy Lee Polis, appears to be identical to Christopher Lee Polis. The civil rights group Equality Maryland has identified Polis as a transgender woman.
Hackett however denied that assertion with the following Facebook posts.
Mitchell McPherson, owner of the McDonald’s where the beating occurred, said that, “the crew member who made the video is no longer employed with my organization.” He added, “Appropriate action regarding other employees will take place as warranted.”
Hackett has since deleted his Facebook, Youtube and Twitter accounts. Meanwhile, the two assailants have been charged in the attack, and Polis is recovering from the injuries.
The video of the attack can be seen below.
