Morry Matson and another CVS manager allegedly called police twice, after dispatchers hung up on them. (Camilla Hudson / Facebook video)
CVS Pharmacy on Monday announced the firing of two employees who called police on a Black woman during a dispute over a coupon. Not everyone is pleased with the way the company handled the situation, however.
The announcement comes just days after Chicago resident Camilla Hudson filmed store manager Morry Matson as he dialed police after accusing her of trying to use a “fraudulent” coupon last Friday. Matson, who served as a state delegate for President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, claimed he’d never seen a coupon like it before and suspected it was a fake.
He and another manager who refused to honor Hudson’s voucher are now without jobs.
“We’ve completed our investigation, and as a result, the two colleagues who were involved are no longer employed by CVS Health,” the company said in a statement.
“CVS Health does not tolerate any practices that discriminate against any customer and we’re committed to maintaining a welcoming and diverse environment in our stores,” it continued. “We have firm non-discrimination policies in place to help ensure that all customers are treated with respect and dignity.”
News of the employees’ firings has sparked backlash from mostly white consumers who demanded the pharmacy release full surveillance video of the encounter. Others argued the incident wasn’t at all race related and the managers didn’t deserve to be fired.
what a JOKE! I have called over them refusing coupons and they don't care- someone plays the race card (which it was NOT) and they fire the employee? She should have left and called corp- not harass the man . #boycottCVS
— PleaseFeedTheTrolls (@Kristal90) July 16, 2018
Disappointing CVS!!! Need to look for another pharmacy
— Mee Ka (@menegurl) July 16, 2018
Just like Starbucks, fire an employee for following company policy. Kroger Pharmacy it is.
— Matthew Stump Sr (@MatthewLStumpSr) July 17, 2018
So what we really want to know is why these employees were fired. Were they fired due to actual racism or for some other reason. If you simply buckled to public pressure over a one sided story would be very disappointed. Reports were made she was asked to leave and refused.
— MCollins (@xavean1975) July 17, 2018
Really CVS?! Had that manager been black you would have backed him up. But he is white so who is racist now. No worries never go to you over priced DIRTY stores anyways!#CVS #cvspharmacy
— Hue Morris (@TheReaper60901) July 16, 2018
CVS we all know people regardless of ethnicity try to rip you off all day long.. this was a BS move you’ve made all CVS cashiers lives harder.. I’m taking my business to #walgreens
— Michael (@IM_Twittless) July 17, 2018
The company said it has since apologized to Hudson for the incident. It’s unclear if she plans to take legal action.
