Brother Fires Max's Deli Co-Owner After 1 Offensive Post Too Many

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The co-owner of Max's Deli, Joey Morelli, announced Thursday that his brother Greg will be removed from all participation in the business, pending a legal separation agreement. In a statement, he expressed regret about recent posts "with unauthorized images and messages" made to the social media accounts of the Highland Park Jewish delicatessen, including an "alt-right" Nazi on its high holiday menu.

The morning after at least 58 people were killed and nearly 500 were wounded in Las Vegas, Greg Morelli tweeted that he felt "relief" when he learned it had been "white people shooting white people," because it "isn't terror ... it's community outreach." Morelli deleted the tweet and apologized on the deli's Facebook page. That post and others he has made to the page have subsequently been deleted.

"Social media is where common sense goes to die. I'm not into it. I think people who tweet are narcissists at best," Joey Morelli told Patch. "Greg's been into social media to a fault, and I believe it can become an addiction and obsession. I don't know why people do it, and it's hurtful and hateful."

Joey said he never wanted any of the attention his brother attracted with his inflammatory posts and regrets the impact it has had on the deli's longtime employees.

"These staff members are my family, I love their kids. I'm here to run a business. I'm here to get the fourth generation running Max's."

Joey said he regrets not parting ways with co-owner Greg sooner, but held off as long as he did because the two are siblings.

"He's my brother, and I've tried and tried to get him to stop with the social media nonsense," Joey told Patch. "But he didn't change, and shame on me, he needs to go."

Joey said he understands that some longtime customers may not want to forgive the business or its staff, even with his controversial brother out of the picture.

"I love my brother, but he has major issues to address," he said. "My brother is a liberal, loving, wonderful guy who doesn't know how to present his politics correctly." (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Highland Park — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The full text of Joey Morelli's statement below:

No one but my brother can control what he posts on social media.

However, he does not represent Max's Deli in any capacity at this point.

We are working on a legal separation that will remove his participation in the business entirely.
Max's Deli will continue to uphold the reputation we have had in Highland Park for three generations - serving our loyal clientele the most authentic, and highest quality Jewish delicatessen specialties to be found on the North Shore.

As business owners and members of our community the Max's Deli family which includes the dozens of dedicated employees who have been with our company for years will continue to serve our customers with the highest level of commitment to great food, great service and a quality dining experience.

As anyone can imagine, we are distraught by the recent tragedies and loss of lives across this nation, and hold nothing but the highest hopes for peace in the aftermath of this kind of senseless violence. Any rhetoric other than that holds no place in our hearts or across any of our company communications period.

We regret that our social channels have been misused in recent weeks with unauthorized images and messages posted by one of our own. We are putting precautions in place to prevent this from happening again.

We want to thank the community and our loyal customers for their tremendous understanding as we have undertaken the proper steps to insure our restaurant which many consider a Highland Park institution will remain a brand and a local business they can continue to trust and enjoy bringing their families and friends to for many more years to come.

Related:

• Nazi Salutes Jewish Deli Menu
• Weeks after his Nazi illustration provoked outrage, Max's Deli co-owner tweets "white people shooting white people isn't terror."

_{Top photo: Max's Deli in Highland Park | Google Street View}