DAYTON, Ohio (WKRC) — Social media posts from a Dayton, Ohio, food truck have sparked backlash, leading area event organizers and business leaders to distance themselves, reports Dayton 24/7 Now.
The Food Pitt’s owners say they’re known for using “jokes” and “humor” to promote their business online, but some recent comments have landed the food truck in some hot water, garnering accusations of misogyny, racism and antisemitism. One of those posts said, “This burger it really makes you want to hit women.” Another post shows children receiving free smoothies, accompanied by the caption, “We gave the colored kids colored smoothies. The kids gave the caption suggestions…”
And in a TikTok video, one of The Food Pitt’s owners is seen pouring juice into a cup. Someone asks, “So, you like juice?” The word “juice” is misheard as “Jews,” to which the owner replies, “Ew, no.”
The controversy has led to The Food Pitt being removed from the vendor list for Dayton Porchfest. And Asha Parson, president of the Oregon District Business Association, said while the food truck isn’t formally “banned” from the Oregon District, the association is conscious of which vendors it chooses to work with.
“We do our research when it comes to working with vendors, and given public comments and things, we would have decided not to work with them,” Parson said. “We owe it to the community to also listen to what they want because we are taking up space within their community.”
The Food Pitt owners Austin Warman, Justin Hamilton and Michael Richards issued an online apology for the posts and said they have seen both support and criticism, but take full responsibility for what they have posted.
“We take accountability for the things that were posted. We know we’re responsible,” Hamilton said. “We never meant to hurt anybody with our jokes. No ill intent. We love what we do, [and] everybody we serve. And that’s what we’ve been doing since day one.”
“We’re learning; we’re growing; we’re trying to move forward, and we’re open to any suggestions and open to everybody in the community,” Warman said.
The owners say they’re promising the community they’ll do better moving forward, writing in a statement:
“With this newfound publicity, we’d like to make positivity from what we have. We’re starting a GoFundMe, and the community will vote on what it goes towards. We also host an annual Thanksgiving donation day, free food, clothes, toys and donations to everyone in need. Check those out to give back. We’ve learned from this; maybe we’d change some things, but humor, the food, and us- that’s The Food Pitt.”
Parson says she and other business owners would need to see changes in The Food Pitt owners’ actions before being willing to work with them in the future.
Dining and Cooking