Michigan CEO apologizes for ‘Lake America’ post shared before travelling to Halifax

A Michigan credit union CEO has apologized following pushback online for a social media post showing her and her family wearing “Lake America” sweatshirts and stating that she is “not sure” Canada would like them. The family was preparing to embark on a trip to Halifax.

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Jane Smith, head of the Family First Credit Union in Saginaw, Michigan has since explained that the photo in the post, which was shared on several social media platforms, was generated using ChatGPT.

And she has apologized for it. In a statement to ABC12, an ABC news affiliate in Michigan, Smith said the image was in poor taste, an attempt at humour using AI gone wrong.

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“Last week, when traveling with my family we decided to take a photo in the Detroit airport and used ChatGPT to generate an image to show what we would look like if we were all wearing ‘Lake America’ sweatshirts,” she said in the statement.

She admitted to sharing the AI-generated image on her personal Facebook page and stated “it was insensitive, distasteful, and in poor judgment. It should never should have been created or shared. Though the image did not depict a real event, I understand that the image was hurtful and offensive.”

Taking further accountability for the stunt, she confessed, “I made a mistake. I own that mistake, and I am committed to learning from it.”

The credit union board issued its own statement to ABC12, indicating its support for Canada and saying that despite the post being a personal one, it is reviewing appropriate steps for Smith.

“Although the post involved Ms. Smith in her personal capacity in connection with a family vacation, the post is unacceptable. … We support and respect our Canadian neighbors, and we completely disavow Ms. Smith’s actions, which were undertaken without the authorization or knowledge of the Credit Union.”

Smith’s Facebook post was reposted by news website, Breaking News Canada. That Facebook post stated that the group of Americans “apparently travelled to Halifax” wearing the matching Lake America sweatshirts. It went on to state that the post “has sparked backlash online from Canadians calling the stunt disrespectful.”

BNC also reposted Smith’s post on Instagram with the same commentary.

And indeed, the backlash has been evident.

Instagram user, Chelsea Przygodzka wrote in response: “Imagine coming to another country to visit and shop and dine at our businesses while actively disrespecting them and expecting great service and kindness 😂 i wonder how many spit burgers and drinks they consumed.”

As previously reported by National Post, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the lake on Aug. 27, which directed the Department of the Interior to update maps and databases to reflect the new name.

Politicians on both sides of the border have condemned the name change, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford erecting a new Lake Ontario sign at a cost of $25,000, soon after Trump signed the executive order. In the U.S., politicians including former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders have criticized Trump’s actions on social media.

Polling has shown that most Americans are against the name change, with Economist/YouGov research finding 68 per cent of Americans strongly or somewhat disapproved of the move. A poll conducted by Ipsos published a similar result, with 63 per cent opposing Trump’s executive order.

Another Instagram user, Cathy Wolters, took a direct shot at Smith’s post, stating that “American arrogance is a reason why American tourists are disliked. Just another example.” As National Post has reported, polling shows that Canadians are increasingly unhappy with Americans since the trade war began, even seeing them as the “enemy.”

Rachael Marsland pointed out that “Doing this over 9/11 in a city that a welcomed tons of planes on 9/11 is f***ing wild.” The comment is in reference to the terrorist attack in New York City, and how a total of 239 flights were diverted to 17 Canadian airports, with an estimated 33,000 displaced passengers.

A Reddit account, r/AmericansInCanada, posted commentary about Smith’s post from Culture Alberta, an Alberta news website.

The photo spread quickly, wrote Culture Alberta, pointing out the tone of online reaction: “Canadians are tired of the joke … It landed in the middle of a much bigger fight over Trump, tariffs, maps, and how far the United States can push a joke before Canadians stop laughing.”

Trump has consistently made derogatory comments at Canada’s expense, including a vague threat described humorously by Prime Minister Mark Carney that he might get shot at the White House, despite receiving an honorary key from the President.

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