A co-owner of a major Tampa restaurant group has stepped down and apologized after violent and racist comments circulated on social media in the aftermath of last weekend's George Floyd protests.
On Monday, Lanfranco Pescante, co-owner of Tampa’s Nocturnal Hospitality Group, went online to explain why he made a “Just shoot them all” comment on an Instagram post. Pescante defended the post by writing that it was taken out of context.
“I'm honestly dumb founded. I'm really not sure why you took things out of context, I was always referring to that no matter what race attacked my business I would shoot them. I stand behind that statement,” Pescante wrote in a comment captured in a screengrab. He said he built his life on his businesses and doesn’t want anyone destroying them.
The account Pescante was interacting with, @officialthebody, has been posting support and resources for protests demanding change after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who was killed on May 25 as a white Minneapolis Police officer knelt on his neck.
“I don't see color and never have. I have best friends of all races. twisting my words isn't going to sawy anyone's perceptions of me,” he added. “I don't see color and never have. I see people for who they are. Everyone that knows me knows that.”
Just before 2 p.m., Pescante told WFLA that he's stepping down immediately from his role with Nocturnal.
Tampa Bay Business Journal said that it’s unknown whether Pescante's business partners plan to buy him out.
In an Instagram post shared by food blogger Carlos Eats, Osteria said that Nocturnal Group and its members have been removed as the management from all Fabio Viviani Hospitality venues in Tampa. Viviano, a Chicago celebrity chef, is a also partner in Mole Y Abuela, Shibui and La Pergola and the management of events venue Mision Lago.
“Also effective immediately FHV will be working with all the investors and managers to take care of all day-to-day restaurant operations,” the post added.
CL reached out to @officialthebody, Pescante and Nocturnal co-owner David Anderson on Tuesday morning. We’ll update this post if they reply.
Pescante—whose group owns a handful of popular restaurants including Osteria, Franklin Manor, Shibui and Mole y Abuela—then took to his Instagram story to apologize.
“I apologize if I offended anyone. I love all people I'm just really frustrated with what I'm seeing going on with the citizens of the United States of all races!,” he added. “What I posted offended anyone I'm truly sorry love you guys and thanks for the continuous support we will get through this the right way no violence just peace.”
But the online criticism of Franklin Manor doesn’t end there. In an Instagram story posted Tuesday, Tampa rapper Jinx mentions hearing that some proposed club nights were met with opposition because the club owner did not want hip-hop.
“Years later, now they play hip-hop continuously and they host several hip-hop events. Which is funny because now that it's financially advantageous for you to do so now it's all cool,” Jinx added.
Tampa podcaster DJ Ekin also took to social media to ask Pescante for an open but candid conversation on any social media platform for the public to watch.
“It’s crazy being black right now. I live in a society that emulates my culture at every turn, but doesn’t seem to place any real value on my life at all,” Ekin wrote. “On top of that I live in a city where certain business owners only seem to think that #blacklivesmatter when it comes making a dollar off of us. That bothers me ...a lot.”
Eikin posted a screenshot of what is allegedly a text from Pescante to someone with the initials DA; Ekin would not tell Creative Loafing Tampa Bay where he got the text message, so the full context is not available, but here’s what it says:
“I personally don’t like the fagget or no one from the group
But at the same time token I don’t spit away any $
Except niggers
All those fuck boys thought were always too cool to even reply me and Dave when we were raising capital legit almost laughed in our face so fuck them but year I’ll take their $. Just not on the day where mayor and vinik is coming”
DJs who regularly play Franklin Manor have also chimed in.
Charles Ku, who lauded Franklin Manor's advance response to the coronavirus wrote on social media that he's known Pescante for years and that he's never once given him a reason to personally question his integrity of values. News of the comments, however, have Ku feeling morally obligated to distance himself from Nocturnal.
"I have always been VERY vocal about where I stand in regards to the social climate of today and the injustices of the less fortunate," Ku wrote. "So I can’t find it in myself to align my brand, my morals, and my DJ career with the company until these issues are addressed and dealt with. I hope we can all learn from this situation moving forward and I wish them the best of luck."
As of Tuesday morning Facebook and Instagram accounts related to Nocturnal and its restaurants are down or set to private.
This is now second time Nocturnal has received public backlash in just the last couple months. In May, multiple videos appeared to show a packed rooftop patio at Mole y Abuela while the City of Tampa had strict social distancing rules set in place.
Nocturnal isn't alone in social media backlash and firing either. Yesterday, South Tampa nightclub The Kennedy said it terminated an employee who made racist remarks in a chat.
UPDATED: 06/02/20 10:35 p.m. This post has been updated with information regarding Pescante's resignation from Nocturnal, plus news of an unrelated firing at South Tampa nightclub The Kennedy. We've also added news about Nocturnal's partnership with Chicago celebrity chef Favio Vivani and TBBJ reporting about whether or not Pescante will be bought out.
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