Written by: JR Robinson
As the founder of JustMy, I've always aimed to create a platform that brings our community together and promotes positive dialogue. However, a recent post I made about school board member Natalie McKinney fell far short of these ideals. I compared Ms. McKinney to a comedic character in a way that was inappropriate and disrespectful.
I want to address this mistake head-on and take full responsibility for my actions. The post was insensitive and failed to consider the impact it could have on Ms. McKinney and our wider community. It's clear from the responses I received that many people were hurt and offended by my words, and rightly so.
As a media platform, we have a responsibility to uplift and support our community members, not tear them down or make light of their appearances. This incident has been a stark reminder of the power of words and the importance of thinking critically before posting on social media.
I've removed the post and am taking this opportunity to reflect on my actions and biases. Moving forward, I commit to:
To Ms. McKinney and all those who were affected by my post, I offer my deepest apologies. I understand that actions speak louder than words, and I am committed to demonstrating through my future conduct that I have learned from this experience.
As we move forward, I invite our community to hold us accountable and to continue engaging in constructive dialogue about the issues that matter to us all. Together, we can build a more inclusive and respectful media landscape that truly serves our community.
Message to Natalie McKinney
"Ms. McKinney, I want to personally apologize for my recent social media post comparing you to a comedic character. My actions were thoughtless and disrespectful. I understand the harm my words may have caused you, both personally and professionally. I've removed the post and made a public apology, but I felt it was important to reach out to you directly as well. I take full responsibility for my mistake and am committed to doing better in the future. If you're willing, I'd appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further about how I can make amends."