Charlotte Apartment Scrambles After Insensitive Social Media Posts By A “Phony Account”
CHARLOTTE, NC – A social media faux pas sends a Southend apartment complex scrambling to control the damage after disparaging posts about people experiencing homelessness go viral.
“It was, to say the least, heartbreaking,” said Deborah Woolard of Block Love CLT.
She was one of many people outraged when they first saw posts believed to be from a Charlotte area apartment complex.
“It was just insensitive. It blew my mind,” said Woolard.
The now deleted comment on a Charlotte skyline photo was from the instagram username “MAA_Southline.” The user first mentioned specifics about the complex saying check out their “dirt cheap apartments”
Another poster commented on the MAA_Southline apartment prices, which elicited this response.
“If you’re looking for more of a budget friendly living situation, may we suggest the tent city on North Tryon?”
“So is that a slap in the face to those who are out there in the tent? Are you saying they don’t deserve a nice apartment?” said Woolard.
The social media comment set off a flood of negative feedback. The @MAA_Southline post and accounts are now deleted. And MAA Southline Apartments received dozens of one star reviews one Tuesday.
Woolard was at first supportive of the strong response.
“A lot of times we need others to use their voice and that’s what people were doing today. They were trying to use their voice,” said Woolard.
But the company says the posts were by an imposter and that they’ve been reported as fraudulent.
“An unknown individual who is not associated with MAA created a phony account named, “@maa_southline” and has used it to post horrifying statements that do not in any way reflect our values as a company,” wrote an MAA spokesperson when asked for comment.
The company says they take pride in providing housing.
“We are currently working with the appropriate officials to determine the perpetrator’s identity and will take appropriate action,” continued the spokesperson.
