Deli facing backlash after co-owner called Las Vegas shooting 'community outreach'
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
FOX NEWS - A Chicago-area deli is facing backlash after one of its owners sent out a tweet in response to the Las Vegas mass shooting, calling it “community outreach.”
Greg Morelli of Max’s Deli in Highland Park, Ill. said he felt "relief" when he heard about the shooting because it took place at a country music concert.
"Soon as I heard it was country music, I felt relief. White people shooting white people isn't terror … it's community outreach. #LasVegas," Morelli’s tweet read.
The tweet, which has since been deleted, was posted Monday morning after news broke of the massacre in Las Vegas, where at least 59 people were killed and over 500 injured.
Both Morelli and the deli received harsh criticism because of the tweet, with people issuing death threats and leaving dozens of one-star reviews on Yelp.
One reviewer wrote: "The owner of this deli is a hateful, vile man who said the almost 600 ppl senselessly shot in LV deserved it."
People reacted on Twitter as well, calling for a boycott of the business.
"You are disgusting!! Hopefully the community reaches out to you and your business. Your hatred and bigotry does not belong in America!!" one Twitter user wrote.
Morelli took to Facebook Tuesday to issue an apology for his controversial tweet. “I own the words I wrote. They hurt people. I apologize,” he posted on the deli’s page.