‘You all are ruining my small business’: Food truck owner targeted after being falsely accused of controversial Charlie Kirk post
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County food truck owner was targeted after being falsely accused of posting a controversial social media post about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
On Monday, Sept. 15, Kristen Bortone, the owner of Kristen’s Kitchen Food Truck, announced in a social post that she has been "falsely associated with political beliefs and statements that do not reflect our business or our values." She said she has been mistakenly identified as another woman of a similar name who operates a separate business.
Bortone posted screenshots on the food truck's Facebook page, which allege that the other person wrote, "#karma," in relation to Kirk's assassination.
Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative influencer and co-founder of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking in front of a crowd at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10. He was visiting the school in Orem, Utah, as part of his organization’s “The American Comeback Tour.”
Kirk was considered controversial by some for his views on LGBTQ+ rights and race.
Following his assassination, many expressed their grief and condemned political violence. It has also led to a widespread debate on social media about whether some responses are appropriate.
Bortone said that she had been receiving hate messages and "defamatory reviews" over the other person's post, because "someone shared false information without even verifying the name," she wrote.
She emphasized that her business "does not endorse or engage in political discourse" through any of its business channels.
"Unfortunately, this confusion has led to false and defamatory reviews that are harming our reputation," Bortone wrote. "We respectfully request that these reviews be removed and that any further misrepresentation of our business stop immediately."
Earlier in another social post on Monday afternoon, Bortone had said the following in response to those who had made negative reviews:
"You all are ruining my small business," she wrote.
However, despite the backlash, Bortone described the "outpouring of love, support, and encouragement" from the community after announcing on social media that it was a different woman who made the post.
She said that this distinction led the food truck's page to fill with "kind words, positive reviews, and reminders that the people who truly know me and my business always have my back," she wrote in a social post Monday evening.
"We are a locally owned and operated food truck, dedicated to serving delicious meals and creating a welcoming environment for everyone—regardless of background or belief," Bortone wrote. "Kristen’s Kitchen Food Truck does not endorse or engage in political discourse through any of our business channels."
8News has reached out to Kristen's Kitchen Food Truck for a statement, but has not heard back as of the time of reporting.
