Apple’s “Chief Cost-Cutter” Fired After Off-Color Joke About What He Does For A Living
Surely, it’s not “fondling big-breasted women.”
Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) vice president for procurement, Tony Blevins, is leaving the company after making a crude joke on a now-viral TikTok video, according to a Bloomberg report.
The video was posted by TikTok star Daniel Mac who asks people driving expensive cars what they do for a living. In this particular post, Blevins, who drives a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, was approached by Mac at a car show and asked the question.
Blevins responded with what he thought was an attempt at humor: “I have rich cars, play golf, and fondle big-breasted women, but I take weekends and major holidays off.”
The Apple executive of 22 years was tragically attempting to make a reference to Arthur, a 1981 Dudley Moore movie. The original quote from the movie is “I race cars, play tennis and fondle women, but I have weekends off and I am my own boss.”
Mac posted the clip to his 13 million TikTok followers on September 5. The 25-second video has since been viewed 1.3 million times on the platform and received 40,000 likes on Instagram.
Blevins, who was once called the “chief cost-cutter” of Apple by the Wall Street Journal, is in charge of closing deals with suppliers and partners, and ultimately of driving down costs of the critical components that go into the tech giant’s mobile devices.
According to sources Bloomberg cited, Blevins has been “integral to the company’s success over the past two decades, according to employees with knowledge of his work, helping Apple fatten its profit margins and get access to core technologies before rivals. He may be difficult to replace, given his understanding of Apple’s supply chain and his negotiating skills.”
His departure from the company, which was confirmed by an Apple spokesman on Thursday, marks the company’s commitment to supporting workplace diversity, women empowerment, and eliminating bad behavior.
Employees have previously questioned this commitment, with many expressing their disappointment in the company’s leaders not following through on their promise to create a safer, more inclusive environment.
Apple last traded at $141.21 on the Nasdaq.
Information for this briefing was found via Bloomberg, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
