Hornets Announce End of CPI Partnership After CEO's Racist Email

Rob Goldberg @TheRobGoldbergFeatured ColumnistJune 7, 2020

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The Charlotte Hornets announced Sunday they are ending their partnership with CPI:

Charlotte Hornets @hornets
Hornets Sports & Entertainment Statement Regarding CPI Partnership https://t.co/V7EUYQ5u6a

The move comes after an offensive email surfaced from CPI Security CEO Ken Gill in response to a call to action to end police brutality by Queen City Unity.

"Please spend your time in a more productive way," Gill responded in an email, via Chloe Leshner of WCNC. "A better use of time, would be to focus on the black on black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men."

The remarks come amid widespread protests against racial injustice and police brutality.

The email was enough to cost several major relationships for the Charlotte-based company.

The Carolina Panthers announced Saturday they were terminating their partnership, while North Carolina State and South Carolina followed suit Sunday.

Former Panthers star Julius Peppers had specifically called out those who support the company:

Julius Peppers @juliuspeppers_
If you're a customer of @cpisecurity and have recently said you're not tolerating racism any longer, here's your chance to put those words into action. https://t.co/Bp5EDjXPMX

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Gill has since apologized for his initial email.

"Regarding the email from me that was shared on social media, I want to apologize for my remarks which did not directly address the public's outcry for racial justice and equality in the wake of George Floyd's senseless killing," he said, per Leshner.