Allentown salon owner mistakenly accused of anti-trans Facebook rant
The owner of a Michigan hair salon is facing massive backlash after posting a hateful anti-transgender rant on Facebook.
But an Allentown salon owner, whose business goes by a similar name, has received an undeserved barrage of nasty calls and comments as internet vigilantes have conflated the two women.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City, Michigan, posted on Facebook declaring that its hairdressers would not service anyone who identifies “as anything other than a man/woman.”
“You are not welcome at this salon. Period,” the post said, according to a report from Business Insider.
The salon, which is owned by Christine Geiger, received a barrage of one-star reviews on Yelp. Several prominent haircare brands who previously worked with Geiger announced they would no longer do so and condemned her comments on social media.
The backlash grew so widespread that a similarly named salon in Allentown also received negative comments and reviews.
Peggy Stoss, owner of Studio 8 Hair Loft on Tilghman Street, pleaded on Facebook for people to cease leaving negative reviews and comments, accusing the salon of transphobic discrimination.
“WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED with this salon, and it is not us,” Stoss wrote on Facebook. “STUDIO 8 HAIR LOFT is a very LGBTQ+ friendly salon.”
In a phone interview Saturday, Stoss said that she was “frustrated and angry” about the inaccurate accusations, but said she understands why people are so upset about Geiger’s remarks.
“When you are a part of that community, they face that stuff all the time, so I understand their frustration,” Stoss said.
She responded to people who left negative reviews and said everybody she spoke with was “Quick to apologize” and take their comments down.
She called on internet advocates to be more discerning when directing frustration and anger at small businesses and people.
“It’s important to stay calm,” Stoss said. “You shouldn’t retaliate against hate with hate.”