Can’t be having too much fun now in 2024.
Being a social media manager might seem like a cushy position, but in reality, it’s somewhat of a daily tightrope walk. Those that are trusted with running business accounts have to find a balance between informing potential consumers and driving engagement.
That’s led to businesses on social media putting out posts like this more and more often:
told our boss we have a doctor’s appointment but we really went to Chili’s for $6 margs
— Chili's Grill & Bar (@Chilis) May 22, 2024
Chef’s kiss.
However, sometimes a professional account (you used to be able to say verified, but thanks a lot for complicating that Elon) crosses a line when they were simply trying to be “funny” or “lighten up” a situation. Following the controversy that has come with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s commencement speech, the official X account (formerly Twitter account) for the city of Kansas City sent out this message:
“Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the city of Lee’s Summit.”
Releasing information about where Butker lives while also seeming to separate KC from the kicker, from a certified city social media account, is rather unprofessional. Or as I mentioned earlier… crossing a line. “Offsides” if you want to use football terms. What’s the purpose of that if not to encourage people to find him, and then do what? Harass him and his family?
That post has since been deleted, though as you know, anything that’s posted on the internet is on there forever. Screenshots of the message have still circulated on social media, and even with the post being taken down shortly after it was put on X, the stunt was enough to get the social media manager fired:
“The employee has been separated from the City workforce for violation of City policy by posting outside the scope of authorized City communications. The City will have no further comment on the post or individual employees related to it.”
NEWS: The city of Kansas City has FIRED the employee who doxxed the location of #Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker on the city's official social media account.
Missouri Attorney General is also currently investigating, who said this was retaliation for Butker’s religious beliefs. pic.twitter.com/IwaX2Wx4du
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 24, 2024
Harrison Butker’s comments, in which he touched on President Biden, COVID-19, women in the workforce (or rather not being in the workforce), certainly ruffled some feathers. However, when his teammates and coaches were asked about all that Butker said, they stood up for him and had his back. Not everyone agreed with what the Chiefs kicker said, but they still respected the fact that he could have his own thoughts. Freedom of speech, if you will.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas released the following statement following the post, and the Kansas City account has since removed the ability to comment on a number of the posts since:
A message appeared earlier this evening from a City public account.
The message was clearly inappropriate for a public account. The City has correctly apologized for the error, will review account access, and ensure nothing like it is shared in the future from public channels.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) May 16, 2024
And here’s the full speech from Butker:
