FACT CHECK: Viral X Image Claims To Show Statement From Lowe’s CEO Disparaging Conservatives
A viral image shared on X claims to depict a statement by Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison criticizing conservatives, stating that they should take their business to Home Depot if they disapprove of the company’s values. However, this claim has been debunked as false. A CNBC spokesperson confirmed that the network did not air any such statement, and the actual quote from Ellison addresses customers delaying significant purchases due to inflation.
Furthermore, Lowe’s itself denied making any such comments via their official social media account, asserting that the CEO’s purported remark is untrue and declaring that everyone is welcome at their stores. This misinformation has circulated widely, with the image viewed over 500,000 times, but key details show no credible sources support the claim. In reality, Lowe’s is reportedly reducing some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as confirmed by recent internal communications.
A viral image shared on X purports to show a statement from Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison disparaging conservatives.
Lowe’s went and got woke. pic.twitter.com/7K5p0V6DSn
— Scarlet (@SuzyLiberty2) August 24, 2024
Verdict: False
The claim is false. A CNBC spokesperson denied the network had aired the X image featuring the purported remark from Ellison. Ellison’s actual quote focused on customers delaying “big-ticket purchases” due to inflation, according to a CNBC video report.
Fact Check:
Lowe’s is ending some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to an internal memo, Reuters reported. The company will no longer participate in surveys for the Human Rights Campaign, among other changes, the outlet indicated.
The X image, viewed over 500,000 times as of writing, purports to show a statement from Ellison disparaging conservatives. “If conservatives do not like our values, they should take their money to Home Depot,” the purported statement reads. The image appears to stem from a CNBC video report featuring a chyron with the phrase, “Earnings Alert: Lowe’s Cuts Full-Year Outlook.” “Lowe’s went and got woke,” the image’s caption claims.
The claim is false. While the CNBC video report featuring the chyron about Lowe’s cuts is real, the quote from Ellison is not. The actual quote from Ellison that appears at the video report’s 00:50-second mark is as follows: “Inflation remains high. And big-ticket purchases are being delayed as customers sit back and wait for interest rates to fall.”
Likewise, Lowe’s denied the remark attributed to Ellison was real via a statement shared to its verified X account. “This statement is false. Lowe’s CEO did not make this comment. Everyone is welcome at Lowe’s,” the post reads. A spokesperson for Lowe’s directed Check Your Fact to the statement.
This statement is false. Lowe’s CEO did not make this comment. Everyone is welcome at Lowe’s.
— Lowe’s (@Lowes) August 24, 2024
In addition, the claim is neither referenced on CNBC’s website nor on its verified social media accounts. A spokesperson for CNBC denied the network had aired the X image in an email to Check Your Fact. (RELATED: Is Disney Selling ABC For $20 Billion)
“We can confirm that this screenshot is not from our air,” the same spokesperson said.
Finally, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On August 26, Snopes reported the claim was false. Besides Snopes, PolitiFact and Fact Crescendo also debunked the claim.
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