Apple executive Tony Blevins was fired after making a sexual joke in a TikTok video. He said he 'fondles big-breasted women' when asked about what he does for a living. He was Apple’s vice president of procurement and was in charge of striking deals with suppliers and partners.
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A senior Apple executive has been sacked after a TikTok video showed him joking about fondling women. Tony Blevins, a key player in the company’s supply chain operations, was filmed inside his $500,000 (£450k) Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. He had a reputation for helping the company cut costs.
In the video, posted by user Daniel Mac on Sept. 5, Apple VP Tony Blevins is asked what he does for a living after the TikToker spotted his luxury car (a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren). "I race cars, play golf, and fondle big-breasted women," Blevins responded. "But I take weekends and major holidays off." He also touted that he has a “hell of a dental plan.”
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Both Mac and Blevins’ companion in a Mercedes sports car were laughing as Blevins spoke off the cuff while exiting the car. It turns out, the executive's answer was a reference to the 1981 movie Arthur in which the main character says "I race cars, I play tennis, I fondle women, but I have weekends off, and I am my own boss," Forbes reported. Blevins appeared to add in the “big-breasted” line himself.
The TikTok video was taken at a car show that Blevins attended last month in Pebble Beach, California. The video garnered more than 40,000 likes on Instagram and 1.3 million views on TikTok. After the clip was published, some members of Apple’s operations and procurement teams reported it to the human resources department. The company then launched the investigation.
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After an internal investigation into the matter, The 22-year veteran of Apple was removed from his position. He confirmed the incident to Bloomberg, saying the encounter occurred on Aug. 18.
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my mistaken attempt at humor,” he said.
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Blevin has been integral to the company’s success over the past two decades, helping Apple fatten its profit margins and get access to core technologies before rivals. The Wall Street Journal described him as Apple’s chief cost cutter in a 2020 feature story, saying he goes by “the Blevinator.” His departure opens up a void at Apple.
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He was also part of a roughly 100-person group of vice presidents at Apple and one of only about 30 executives that report to either Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook or Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams.
Apple workers were reportedly frustrated by Blevins’ comments, considering other executives at the company's claim to support improving diversity and women’s empowerment.