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One in all Apple’s most senior executives is leaving after he turned up in a viral video on TikTok making an off-color joke that he fondles “big-breasted girls” for a residing.
Within the video, revealed on Sept. 5, Apple’s Tony Blevins was approached by TikTok and Instagram creator Daniel Mac as a part of a collection the place he asks homeowners of costly vehicles their occupations. The manager was stopped by Mac whereas parking a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, an out-of-production sports activities automobile that fetches lots of of hundreds of {dollars}.
When requested what he does for a residing, Blevins mentioned, “I’ve wealthy vehicles, play golf and fondle big-breasted girls, however I take weekends and main holidays off,” in accordance with the video’s captions. He additionally touted that he has a “hell of a dental plan.”
In actuality, Blevins is Apple’s vp of procurement and is in control of placing offers with suppliers and companions. He just lately labored on the corporate’s satellite tv for pc settlement with Globalstar Inc., led negotiations over mobile modems with Qualcomm Inc. and Intel Corp., and has been in control of driving down the prices of many essential components that go into Apple’s cell gadgets.
After an inner investigation into the matter, Blevins’s group — which included about half a dozen direct studies and a number of other hundred staff — was faraway from his command, in accordance with individuals aware of the scenario.
Blevins, a 22-year veteran of Apple, confirmed the incident to Bloomberg, saying the encounter passed off on Aug. 18. “I want to take this chance to sincerely apologize to anybody who was offended by my mistaken try at humor,” he mentioned.
An Apple spokesman mentioned Thursday that Blevins is departing the Cupertino, California-based firm.
Blevins has been a part of a roughly 100-person group of vice presidents at Apple and considered one of solely about 30 executives that report back to both Chief Govt Officer Tim Prepare dinner or Chief Working Officer Jeff Williams. Williams has been Blevins’s boss for a lot of his profession, although he briefly reported to Sabih Khan, Apple’s senior vp of operations, in accordance with the individuals.
It was Williams’s determination for the corporate and Blevins to half methods, one of many individuals mentioned. The working chief will oversee Blevins’s outdated group, no less than for now, in accordance with the individual.
The TikTok video was taken at a automobile present that Blevins attended final month in Pebble Seashore, California. His remarks within the 25-second clip reference a line from the 1981 film Arthur, the place major character Arthur Bach describes his personal profession: “I race vehicles, play tennis and fondle girls, however I’ve weekends off and I’m my very own boss.”
The video garnered greater than 40,000 likes on Instagram and 1.3 million views on TikTok. After the clip was revealed, some members of Apple’s operations and procurement groups reported it to the human assets division, mentioned the individuals, who requested to not be recognized as a result of the scenario is non-public. The corporate then launched the investigation, they mentioned.
The video grew to become a subject of debate amongst Apple staff in latest weeks, with some expressing anger about his feedback — particularly provided that different executives, together with Prepare dinner and Williams, have publicly championed workforce variety and the empowerment of ladies — in accordance with the individuals. The video has additionally begun to unfold amongst staff at a few of the firm’s key suppliers.
Blevins’s departure opens up a void at Apple. He’s been integral to the corporate’s success over the previous 20 years, in accordance with staff with data of his work, serving to Apple fatten its revenue margins and get entry to core applied sciences earlier than rivals. He could also be troublesome to interchange, given his understanding of Apple’s provide chain and his negotiating abilities, they mentioned.
The Wall Road Journal described him as Apple’s chief value cutter in a 2020 characteristic story, saying he goes by “the Blevinator.”
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