SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The owner of a popular bar located in Old Town Scottsdale is facing harsh criticism for a post on her personal Facebook page Monday.
"I hate to say it, but I felt really sorry for the blacks in regard to their to their cause. Black lives Matter, but they have lost me on this issue. What was a noble cause has turned into a very dangerous and disgusting and shameful way to show their sorry asses? They are thieves, violent criminals and low-class a**holes. I do have wonderful relationships with my decent friends but this bull s*** is way out of control."
Pattie Fuller's post received hundreds of comments from friends and customers who were outraged by the comments from the owner of Pattie's First Avenue Lounge.
"Used to be a regular here, probably three times a week. Now never again," one user told ABC15 via Facebook. "This used to be my after work hang out spot! So sad" wrote another.
The post is just as upsetting for Jeff Cooley, who's worked at Pattie's for 24 years. "I have pretty much only good memories of the place," said Cooley. "It turned into, in a day, a place that I wasn’t proud of.”
Cooley tells ABC15 he practically grew up at Pattie's. The now 48-year-old started working as a bartender there at age 25. Tuesday, he saw Fuller's post and says he knew within hours he could no longer support the business.
“It was hard to look friends of mine in the face that are affected by the comments that were made that I was making money from a place that caused them grief," he added.
Cooley says he sent a text to his fellow managers announcing his resignation. "I don’t wanna be associated with it anymore. I had to just walk away from it.”
ABC15 made several attempts to reach Fuller's relatives and employees, but so far, we have not received a comment.
Fuller did publish another post on her personal Facebook page following the backlash, saying:
"If I offended anyone in my post about the looters and thrives. I apologize. It was directed at all the people that were not peacefully protesting but at the ones that were breaking the law. It was not ever intended to single out any specific person or least of all race. After reading my post I can see where I was not completely clear in the writing of it and it could be misconstrued. As I stated, I'm sorry for that but it was unintentional and a foolish mistake. I really thought when I referred to them, meaning the looters, it was clear I meant only the looters. Sorry I was not more articulate."
