A West Ashley brewery took to Facebook Friday night to apologize for a series of posts by one of its co-owners, who suggested that Alabama’s recent abortion ban is a result of not enough women running for office.
Wesley Donehue reposted a meme that has been circulating on social media for the past few days. The post, which repeats the sentence, “Men shouldn’t be making laws about women’s bodies,” drew ire from Donehue, a partner at Frothy Beard Brewing Company.
“We need more women running for office,” he wrote. “Until then, men will and should control legislative bodies.”
“Ladies, if you’re posting these memes this week you should consider doing the harder thing. Run for office,” he offered.
A Frothy Beard employee who answered the phone Saturday afternoon declined to comment on the matter.
[embed-2] Donehue is the founder and CEO of Push Digital, a public relations firm, and has consulted for several high profile Republican politicians. He advocated for the passage of the so-called “Stone Bill,” a state law signed by Gov. Nikki Haley in 2014 that increased the production limits for brewpubs and allowed local breweries to expand into retail markets.
Other screenshots show Donehue arguing with Twitter user @haforlo.
“I’m just in no mood for a woman stuck in a library with nothing to do but troll,” Donehue wrote. “Go read a book and get out of here with your chemical imbalances.”
[embed-1] Donehue’s Twitter account has since been deactivated.
Some users on Twitter and Facebook have called for a boycott of Frothy Beard.
Since many are no longer online, it’s unclear when Donehue posted the statements, but the company issued an apology Friday night.
“We would like to apologize for the opinions and expressed beliefs of one of our partners,” the company wrote on Facebook. “The brewery and the other partners do not share the opinions of the arguements [sic] found and shared on social media. We have worked hard for our 6 plus years as a brewery to be a place of compassion, love and tolerance for all.”
Post and Courier food editor Hanna Raskin reported Saturday that “a group of five employees” met on Friday to discuss a way to buy Donehue’s ownership stake in the brewery.
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