Small enterprise posts video that includes Nigel Farage — but it surely ‘massively backfires’
Liam Lazarus’ business, Haystack café in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, suffered a detrimental impact after Mr Lazarus featured Nigel Farage in a video he posted on social media
Nigel Farage is pictured during the walkabout in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales(Image: PA)
A small business owner said his decision to feature Nigel Farage in a marketing video “massively backfired”.
Liam Lazarus’ enterprise, Haystack café, lost thousands of followers on social media after he posted the clip of Mr Farage in the restaurant. Mr Lazarus has since deleted the video and uploaded an apology, describing the consequences of his decision as “horrible”.
In a new video he posted on Instagram, Mr Lazarus said: “What a horrible day it has been today. As you can tell by my reaction that’s obviously not what I wanted to do. I know you guys are going to say: ‘It’s too late, no choice is a choice, blah blah blah.’ I am sorry. The message that I intended wasn’t that.
“I wasn’t meant to endorse Reform. I wasn’t meant to endorse Nigel Farage or any of his strategies. My political views are not important – I don’t actually have any. I run a hospitality company — no time to have any.”
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The Leader of Reform UK and his Welsh leader Dan Thomas were in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales campaigning this week ahead of the Senedd election. The duo popped into Haystack café, which is on the high street, and Mr Lazarus saw the opportunity to snap the politicians.
But he said he now recognises why he has faced such a backlash, and hopes business won’t be impacted massively by this, Wales Online reports. Mr Lazarus added: “My intentions were not how it looked and I know it’s easily judged but I hope you judge this video as easily as you judged the last video when I say I did not mean any discrimination against my last post. I know a lot of you know that as well.
“It’s not nice being called the names I have been called and the company has been judged when it didn’t need to be. Like in terms of the facts of our company — this seems like a cry for help, but like we have a full halal menu across three sites.”
Mr Farage had divided opinion when he visited the market town, with some residents branding him racist. Mr Lazarus continued: “We currently employ non-binary or transgender human beings. So the fact that people think my political views are a certain way is not true. The fact that you’re even being judged at all isn’t very nice, isn’t really nice at all.
“In my head the video was like — I was going to say celebrity then and I would have got f****d for that. But a person was coming in, a person that was important or whatever, I’m going to take a video, get the initial ‘hook’ it’s called in terms of social media, and then show the pancakes to all the people with earphones on and cameras outside.
“Use all the fuss for the good of the Haystack, which f*****g massively backfired. But that was how pure my thoughts were – nothing to do with any politics, nothing do with discriminating against anybody. I hold my hands up and will apologise. I hope we’re always open, as we say, and take that apology.
“We lost thousands of followers guys. Please try and follow back or re-share this. The company as a whole is way bigger than me. We’ve got 60-odd employees. Yeah, it means more than just me being hurt.”
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Followers flocked to the comments to offer up their support to the company. One person said: “The vast majority of people with a bit of common sense know exactly why u promoted today’s visit and don’t judge u for it at all! So sad that u feel u have to apologise for doing what any other businesses would do by taking advantage of a platform for your business with a bit of banter.
“The haters probs aren’t your genuine customers anyway and certainly shouldn’t be dictating to u how u can & can’t operate your business! Don’t feel bad! Uppa Haystack!”
Another added: “You’re a person trying to make his business work as best you can and offending people is bottom of the agenda as you want everyone as a customer to try and make your business work.
“I hope people can see the bigger picture and apply some logic here. If people knew the challenges of trying to make a business work in the current environment they’d understand what you saw as an opportunity that was not meant for offence. I hope this blows over and your business stays strong.”
However others felt like the apology was “tokenising transgender people & followers of the Islamic faith in an attempt to prove a point”.
One commenter said: “Being politically neutral is a choice and a preach of privilege, and if you are truly politically neutral may I suggest some research into the party’s policies before using them for social media engagement…you may have not meant to cause any harm but impact far exceeds intent.”
Another added: “Political opinions matter, especially within hospitality industry!”
