To a mr. don lemon

Hello Don and Team!

I do apologize if this messages isn’t in the proper channels but it is important none the less.

First off, let me applaud you for coming out here to our targeted city during this agonizingly difficult time to shed some light on this situation. Awareness and insight is certainly what we need right now, and your work is doing a wonderful job at that. I thank you greatly for this.

My name is Liam and I am the “boy” that assisted in your check out at Kowalski’s Markets this past Sunday, January 18th. The reason why I write to you today is because I was disappointed in how I handled myself during our interaction, and I know you were disappointed in me too. The absolute last thing I ever want to do in my position at Kowalski’s is leave anyone as upset as you and all of your – incredibly verbose – fans were after I helped you. Believe it or not, despite me being a “little kid”, I have actually worked at Kowalski’s on Lyndale for over two and a half years. In this time I have formed meaningful connections with all of my customers and I try my hardest to make people laugh and put a smile on everyone who steps through my lane. I have even been stoped in the street by people saying “Are you Liam?! You are my Kowalski’s bagger!” This is why I care so deeply about what happened the other day.

My part in the community may be small here but it is valued and respected. I can assure you I did not feel valued or respected during our encounter. When I am a stakeholder in a private establishment (such as my position at Kowalski’s) it is one-hundred percent my right to not be filmed. I asked very kindly and I appreciate your cameraman moving the shot off me and that would have been that. However you claimed that I was not in the shot and there was no video of me. I knew that wasn’t the case and this is where i grew angrier.

I apologize for my harsh tone but i think that it is film someone with out their consent let alone with their explicit instructions to not be on camera.

your reporting is important but the part where you search your live comments for insults to jointly hurl at the boy who just made a very reasonable request not to be recorded or placed on the internet, I personally could do without. I watched our whole interaction and read the live chat all through Starbucks

Please do not ever enter my store with a rolling live camera again. Do not film people without their consent, and when they make the request to not be put online, honor it. Anytime you find yourself in one of our stores again, I would be delighted to help you face to face without social media. Of course you are welcome in by me and my coworkers anytime Don.

Thank you for your time.

William T Skrypek

I understand your are from New York and perhaps it is a cultural barrier,

And yes, @accountabilitynow9814, I was having a very bad hair day! I’m glad you were aware. It makes me feel special to have so many people that care this much about me!