Leland grocery store owner faces backlash over Facebook comment

February 8, 2017

Hannah Patrick,

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — A Leland grocery story owner is facing backlash over a Facebook comment.

A woman claims one of the owners of the Piggly Wiggly in Leland posted an offensive comment on her sales ad on social media.

When Jessenia Tascon posted a picture of her Toyota Sequoia in a Wilmington yard sale Facebook group, she never expected it to turn into a viral conversation.

“Someone sent me a private message saying, ‘Hey, did you just see what that person posted? That is so racist,'” Tascon said.

Tascon said the comment was from a man named Daniel Teachey. She said she later found out Teachey is one of the owners of the Piggly Wiggly.

Daniel Teachey’s comment on Jessenia Tascon’s Facebook ad.

“Sell it in Mexico. They don’t know better and it will hold 22 illegals,” Teachey said in the Facebook comment.

Tascon said she was immediately offended.

“I am Hispanic,” Tascon said. “I’m not Mexican though. I was born and raised here in the U.S., but it did offend me.”

She said she shops at that Piggly Wiggly often and she knows many Hispanics who also shop there.

“If you study management or any of that, the first thing is customer service and why would you treat someone like that? My post had nothing to do with that comment,” Tascon said.

Teachey later posted an apology on the store’s Facebook page.

“Sorry,” Teachey said. “Not meaning to sound racist. Just joking. Not a good joke. If you like, you could bring it and sell it in the parking lot with the other four vehicles we have out there now. It’s a nice looking vehicle that would sell pretty quick. Please accept my apology.”

We stopped at the Piggly Wiggly to get Teachey’s side. He did not want to do an on camera interview, but told us he has apologized twice.

“I just want him to know that that was really hurtful to me directly and to all my Latin or Hispanic family members or friends or anyone that’s Mexican,” Tascon said.

Teachey told us he took down the Leland Piggly Wiggly Facebook page.

Tascon said she reached out to corporate Piggly Wiggly. They responded to her e-mail with an apology.