Jimmy John's 'Quickly Investigates' Viral Noose Video and Fires All Employees Involved for 'Racism'

Jimmy John's announced on Monday the firing of all employees involved in a now-viral video that appeared to show workers staging a mock hanging with a noose made of dough.

In the clip, which was taken at one of the sandwich franchise’s locations in Woodstock, Georgia, a young man in an apron and Jimmy John's T-shirt puts the noose around his neck as three of his apparent coworkers carry out the faux execution. 

• One of the giggling coworkers intones: "You have disrespected our store, and now you are set to die."
• The 16-second video was uploaded to Snapchat with a “Happy 4th of July” filter, and later spread to other social media platforms.
• Versions of the footage have been viewed more than 2 million times on Twitter.

The reaction: The employees, at least three of whom appeared to be white, made no discernable reference to race in the video — but a number of Twitter activists and news outlets asserted they were being racist. 

• Some noted that Jimmy John’s founder, Jimmy John Liautaud, has supported President Donald Trump.
• Others pledged to never again eat at Jimmy Johns.

Employees at Jimmy Johns made a noose out of bread dough to mock the lynching of Black Americans.

A subtle reminder that the founder of Jimmy Johns, Jimmy John Liautaud, is a huge Trump supporter. pic.twitter.com/naLZivxXwT

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) July 6, 2020

Jimmy Johns replied to several of the videos circulating on Twitter to say that all four unidentified employees involved in the incident had been "quickly investigated" and “terminated” by the franchise ownership for their "unacceptable" behavior. 

• “We have zero tolerance for racism or discrimination in any form,” the company said. 

pic.twitter.com/AwUyH9SnGt

— Jimmy John's (@jimmyjohns) July 6, 2020

Who's getting canceled: Amid an ongoing campaign to purge racism from American culture, several dozen people, from unknown workers to industry leaders, have in recent weeks lost their jobs over allegations of racism that have in some cases been highly dubious. 

• Innocent ropes have in more than one headline-making instance been mistaken for racist symbols of lynching and caused national outcry.