IAC fires PR exec Justine Sacco over ‘racist’ tweet over AIDS

IAC’s Chief Communications Director Justine Sacco tweeted, ‘Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!’ on her way to Cape Town Friday. The single tweet has sparked what some are calling ‘rage donations’ to AIDS charities.

BY BETH STEBNER / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013, 2:20 PM

Sacco has been sacked.

Justine Sacco, the New York PR executive who sparked a global firestorm for her wildly insensitive tweet on AIDS, was fired Saturday by her bosses at media conglomerate IAC.

“There is no excuse for the hateful statements that have been made and we condemn them unequivocally,” said a rep for the company, which includes brands such as OKCupid, Vimeo, and the Daily Beast.

“The offensive comment does not reflect the views and values of IAC. We take this issue very seriously, and we have parted ways with the employee in question.”

Sacco, 30, tweeted Friday, "Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!" before taking off for South Africa.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/pr-exec-justine-sacco-tweet-sparks-aids-donations-article-1.1554932#ixzz2oATwvXVh