Woke activists are calling for a boycott of a beloved San Diego-born taco chain over its CEO’s assist of President Trump.
Roberto’s Taco Store — which has places 80 places throughout California, Nevada and Texas — got here below fireplace after a TikTok person accused CEO Reynaldo Robledo of supporting the MAGA motion.
The video, posted by a person who says she exposes “Latino MAGA companies,” factors to social media exercise from accounts in Robledo’s title, together with Fb posts.
The clip shortly gained tons of traction, pulling in almost 80,000 views and sparking tons of of feedback. The missive could have led to a Fb web page tied to Robledo being wiped, in response to SFGate.
“Did this CEO neglect that each one of his eating places are based mostly on Mexican dishes, who wouldn’t have made it right here with out the immigrants which can be presently being affected by the present administration that you’re supporting?” the person asks.
In 2020, Robledo attended a “Latinos for Trump” roundtable and praised the president.
“We love the work you’re doing. We love what you’ve completed for us,” he instructed Trump, including it was their third assembly.
Robledo’s mother and father opened the unique Roberto’s Taco Store in San Diego in 1964 after operating a tortilla manufacturing unit. It could develop into one of many area’s most recognizable taco chains, typically credited with creating the California burrito.
Whereas the model is deeply rooted within the Golden State, it has expanded to dozens of franchise places in Nevada, significantly in Las Vegas and Reno, in addition to in Texas.
Requires a boycott have unfold past TikTok.
A Fb group, A Sturdy Nevada, posted: “Do you know that Reynaldo Robledo, the CEO of Roberto’s Taco Store is a large MAGA supporter and helps ICE! Seems such as you gained’t be getting our enterprise anymore!”
Amid the uproar, the corporate’s Nevada arm issued a press release on Instagram emphasizing that particular person franchise homeowners function independently.
“Roberto’s Taco Store is proud to be a Latino-owned and operated franchise that serves numerous communities throughout Nevada,” the assertion learn. “Whereas our CEO could maintain private political views, it is very important be aware that every of our 49 franchisees function their shops independently.”
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“The day-to-day operations and livelihoods of our 600 staff members replicate the exhausting work, values, and cultural heritage of households, lots of whom are Latino immigrants, who’re devoted to serving their native communities,” it added.
On-line reactions stay break up.
“Noooooooooo not my drunk meals,” one TikTok person wrote, whereas one other mentioned, “Was going to strive the one shut by. Received’t resulting from being enlightened. Will proceed to assist my small native spot. Thanks.”
Others urged restraint, pointing to the franchise mannequin.
“It’s a franchise. You’re spreading misinformation. I’ve a pal whose household invested on this franchise that don’t have these beliefs. Simply because the CEO has sure ideas, it shouldn’t have an effect on the household who invested within the franchise,” one commenter wrote.
And never all of the responses had been damaging. “I knew there was a cause why I like Roberto’s,” one Fb person posted.
The corporate didn’t reply to The California Publish’s request for remark earlier than publication.
