Drakes Supermarket boss John-Paul Drake’s explosive tirade against racial abuse directed at junior employee

A supermarket boss has called out racial abuse directed at a junior employee who featured in a social media post.

A supermarket boss has called out trolls who directed racially abusive comments at a junior employee featured in a social media post for the store.

Drakes Supermarket created a post on its Facebook page to promote a competition, but it was filled with offensive comments and memes from people attacking the young staff member.

Drakes Supermarket director John-Paul Drake fired back at the trolls in an open message to the people who hid behind a keyboard to hurt his team with hateful, rude and racist comments.

In a statement posted to his Instagram page on Monday, Mr Drake did not hold back when he told the people responsible for the disgusting comments to “f**k off”.

Drakes Supermarket director John-Paul Drake has fired back at trolls who flooded a social media post with racially abusive comments. Picture: Facebook

“This is completely unacceptable,” he said in the statement.

“Drakes is about people.

“Drakes is here to serve everyone in our community … if you treat others with respect, you’re welcome in our stores.

“If that makes you uncomfortable, you’re free to shop somewhere else. That’s your choice.

“But don’t come into our stores or onto our pages and attack my team, who turn up everyday to serve their communities with pride.

“Racism has no place in our society. And you have no place in our stores.”

A junior staff member was targeted by online trolls on social media. Picture: Facebook

Mr Drake said the comments directed at his team member were blatantly racial and offensive and just because keyboard warriors hid behind a computer didn’t mean their actions did not have an impact on real humans.

“I couldn’t just let it go – this behaviour just isn’t right, in any place or form and I won’t accept it in my business,” he said.

“I chose to do it as an open letter to address all the inappropriate comments and to ensure our team members, followers and customers understand exactly where we stand.”

The supermarket boss said his staff should not have to put up or deal with this behaviour and should feel empowered to stand up for what is right.

“People have applauded us for standing up for our team – I see it as just par for the course,” he said.

“I personally contacted the team member Monday morning – he’s one of our young guns and has the most positive attitude. 

“He requested that we leave the post up, and wanted to ensure that we continued inviting him to be part of future ads. I think we’ll lose him to a modelling contract soon.”

Many people have supported the supermarket boss for standing up for his employee.

“Well done JP for standing up to faceless gutless trolls. Hold your head high young fella,” one person commented.

“Amazing young lad, amazing supermarket, awesome boss,” a customer said.

Originally published as Drakes Supermarket boss John-Paul Drake’s explosive tirade against racial abuse directed at junior employee