Zoe apologizes for posting suspect tweet

Coffeehouse receives backlash, owner claims unintentional mistake

IAN SMAY, Evergreen reporter

Zoe Coffeehouse has apologized following a reply to a tweet by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Twitter last week that referenced the U.S. child detention situation.

“What’s happening to families at the border right now is a humanitarian crisis,” Clinton’s tweet read. “Every parent who has ever held a child in their arms, every human being with a sense of compassion and decency, should be outraged.”

Shortly after the tweet, a reply was posted by Zoe Coffeehouse’s twitter account, rebuking Clinton’s stance and referencing her pro-choice stance.

“I hope you can see the irony and hypocrisy in this statement from someone who embraces abortion so fervently,” the reply read. “Where is your outrage for the hundreds and thousands of children inhumanly taken from their mother’s every year? Jesus Christ is truly saying, suffer the little children to come to me.”

The reply was quickly deleted, but not before some took screenshots and Zoe released an official statement shortly thereafter.

“On [June 18] night an erroneous tweet went out that in no way reflects the beliefs or values of the Zoe brand or its staff,” the statement read. “Precautions have been taken to never allow for this again. For 13 years, Zoe has been an apolitical safe haven for the WSU and Pullman community and always will be. We apologize for this incident and remain true to our values.”

Even with the deletion and apology for the tweet, some people felt offended by the sentiments in the tweet.

“Highly unprofessional that you purvey your religiosity through your Twitter, especially over politics,” Sarah Kessinger said in a review on the coffeehouse’s official Facebook page.

Some posts said the business lost their patronage over the incident, while a post by Sophia Akiko read “piggybacking a humanitarian crisis to further your own misguided agenda on the back of a politician, regardless of who it is or how you feel about them is despicable.”

However, some supported the establishment, with one review after the tweet in question claiming Zoe has “amazing food with great service. Very friendly staff and owner,” according to Will Glasscock.

Zoe owner Mike Wagoner said via email the coffeehouse would never intentionally offend anyone and he was thankful for the support they have received during their time in Pullman.

“Our thanks go out to our ever-supportive Pullman family for 13 years of unconditional patronage,” he said in an email. “To the WSU students we have the privilege of watching grow and transform each semester, the faculty and staff with whom we have bonded with and connected at WSU and the [University of Idaho] … we are committed to providing Pullman and WSU with the same great food and service we always have.”