The former CEO of U.S.-based credit union Family First is no longer with the company, days after she posted an allegedly AI-edited family photo of her family with “Lake America” sweatshirts.
On Wednesday, a statement posted to the company’s website revealed that Jane Smith was no longer with Family First “effective immediately,” with chief operations officer Jason Acosta serving as interim CEO. It was signed by Maurice Patterson, chairman of the Family First Credit Union board, and Acosta.
Family First did not state that if the reaction was the reason for Smith leaving, even though the company posted on Thursday that “we sincerely apologize for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused our members and community.”
Family First is based in Michigan, a state that borders Canada.
Smith on Sept. 11 had posted the photo on Facebook with the caption: “Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will. Lol lol”
The post has since been deleted from Facebook, CBC News reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared the renaming of Lake Ontario on the U.S.-Canadian border to “Lake America” last month, prompting massive backlash from Canadians, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and even animated comedy South Park, which changed its name to “South America” in a jab at the U.S. President’s order.
In an interview on Sept. 17 with ABC12 News in Michigan, Smith said that the picture contained an AI marker, but was later reposted by her sister without the AI marker.
“We weren’t trying to make a political statement,” Smith reportedly said. “However, we were, you know, kind of poking fun at the fact that you know one of the Great Lakes’ names were getting changed.”
In an earlier statement to ABC12 News, Family First had said it “unequivocally disapproves and rejects the content of the social media post involving our CEO, Jane Smith.”
U.S. Congressman Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.) has also introduced legislation to block Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario and prohibit the future renaming of any of the five Great Lakes.
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