Wheatsville Exec Under Fire For Racially Insensitive Video

AUSTIN, TX — The chief executive grocer of the state's sole grocery cooperative, Wheatsville Food Co-op, is under fire after a past posting of what's being described as a racially insensitive video on his YouTube channel, according to a published report.

CultureMap Austin reported that Dan Gillotte uploaded a video of him singing a song with ukulele accompaniment titled “Condoms Over Combs: White Girl Showing Black Dude Around The Grocery Store.” The video, posted some years past and which has since been deleted, makes reference to "dreadlock shampoo" and condoms.

The video's discovery has led to a petition among employees at the cooperative and community members calling for Gillotte's ouster. As part of their protest, organizers of a petition resurrected the since-deleted video on YouTube for others to judge for themselves. The online petition posted on the Change.org website calling for Gillotte's immediate resignation has secured nearly 300 signatures at last check.

The Austin American-Statesman subsequently reported Gillotte is currently on leave from Wheatsville pending the outcome of an investigation in the wake of the controversy.

Patch reached out to Gillotte via email to hear his perspective on the controversy, but a response wasn't immediately received. In light of the rebuke by community members, the board and Gillotte issued a joint statement as reported by CultureMap Austin, which broke the story on the controversy: “As a co-op, Wheatsville values inclusiveness and celebrates diversity. The co-op board and leadership team is taking this matter very seriously and will continue to keep staff well-being a top priority. Co-op management is committed to being a diverse and inclusive local business and taking steps to deepen that commitment,” said the leadership group.

Employees told Patch a board meeting took place on the matter on Monday at the Guadalupe Street store, describing it as standing-room only in an already confined space. Those interviewed by Patch said employees and community members — many of them impassioned — were given a forum to air their concerns at the meeting, but board members took no official stance. Independent of the other, both workers described the meeting as "intense."

"We're so glad you're here!" reads a message painted above the entry to the Wheatsville store on Guadalupe Street store in furthering the cooperative's sense of and inclusion. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff.

One employee posited Gillotte's offending video as being contradictory to the cooperative's bylaws, which read in part: "The purpose of Wheatsville Co-op is to create a self-reliant, self-empowering community of people that will grow and promote a transformation of society toward cooperation, justice, and non-exploitation."

In the exterior of the Guadalupe store, the bylaw directive is buttressed with placards speaking to the tactics of inclusion. "Todos son bienvenidos aqui," read the colorful signs staked into the ground outside the store, a message accented with the cooperative's signature heart figure and rainbow-like background — "all are welcome here."

Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff.

Formed in 1976, Wheatsville is a full-service, natural foods cooperative grocery store offering organic produce, meat, dairy and other products. It's the only retail food cooperative in Texas, with more than 21,000 invested owners, according to its website. Dues-paying customers dubbed "owners" receiving membership cards have the option of participating in the cooperative's machinations, including voting in board elections.

Wheatsville operates two stores in Austin, the original location at 3101 Guadalupe St. and one opened in 2013 at 4001 S. Lamar Blvd.

>>> Read the full story at CultureMap Austin

Editor's note: The author is a Wheatsville "owner" and frequent shopper at the Guadalupe Store location.