Jeffrey Whitman
Jeffrey Whitman
Video of the incident [3]
Jeffrey Whitman is the Owner Operator of Uriah's Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration in Powell, Ohio a small town located about 17 miles from Columbus, Ohio.
In July 2018, Whitman was caught on video calling Charles Lovett, an African American man a "nigger" several times after following Lovett home.
The incident began after a traffic related dispute.
In The Media
Racial Slur Incident
Photo of the victim, Charles Lovett [1]
On Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Charles Lovett posted a video on Facebook of Jeffrey Whitman calling him a "nigger" several times after allegedly following him home.
The video was shared the next day by activist, Shaun King.
In less than 48 hours the video received more than 1 million views and 30,000 shares.
Whitman later apologized to Lovett for calling him the n-word.
According to the victim, Charles Lovett, the incident began on the morning of Tuesday, July 24, 2018 because of a disagreement over who had the right of way in a lane on Morse Road.
Charles Lovett claims the man later identified as Jeffrey Whitman got upset with him because he thought Lovett had cut him off on Morse Road in the area of Interstate 71 and Sinclair Road.
Charles Lovett says that Whitman nearly sideswiped him trying to cross over from the Sinclair Road lane into the Morse Road lane, and Lovett honked at him.
Charles Lovett says that's when the Jeffrey Whitman, who was in his company's Uriahs Heating Cooling Refrigeration work vehicle at the time, followed him to his house in a nearby north Columbus, Ohio neighborhood.
As Lovett got out of his car in his driveway, he began recording on his iPhone as he walked toward the van at the end of his driveway.
Apology
ABC 6/FOX 28 reached out to the driver, Jeffrey Whitman who is also the owner of the company.
While he refused to go on camera, Jeffrey Whitman said in a phone call that he's not a racist and that he regrets it.
He said, "I lost my head."
Jeffrey Whitman added that after Lovett posted the video on Facebook, he began receiving threats.
When ABC 6/FOX 28 asked why he would say that word over and over, he hung up.
On Wednesday, July 25, 2018, Jeffrey Whitman released a statement apologizing for the incident.
"To Charles Lovett and the community, I apologize for my use of the n word towards Charles Lovett on Tuesday, July 24th.
I understand that using the n-word was not only hurtful towards Lovett as an individual, but hurtful towards the Black community at large.
Using the word was dehumanizing, unacceptable, and inexcusable.
My actions reflect an unhealthy mindset I have developed and I need to work to change.
I have served the Black community for the last 9 years, installing furnaces and water heaters with pride.
My actions that day are not a reflection of my feelings towards the Black community.
I also understand that racial tensions in America are higher than before, and I regret my part in contributing to that tension.
I realize that words are hollow without action, and because of the hurt I have caused, I hope I have the opportunity to give back to the Black community that I have harmed in a meaningful way."