Another woman is speaking out against one of the owners of Vancouver Candle Co.
The Vancouver-based candle company has come under fire for a series of racist and threatening messages that a local sales agency says it received from the company's co-owner, Nick Rabuchin.
Last week, the Warner McDaniel Agency shared a series of screenshots in an Instagram post that they say contain conversations with Rabuchin of Vancouver Candle Co. The messages contain disturbing and hateful racist language.
A number of companies that Vancouver Candle Co. has worked with have responded in anger, sadness, and shock.
In addition, Nicolette Zoric, Rabuchin's former assistant, came forward to call out her former employer. In an Instagram post, she writes that she has seen first hand how, "sick this individual is and how he spent [...] time bad mouthing anyone who came upon him."
Now, Erin Sousa, founder and and principal at Sparkle Media Inc., says that she received "disturbing and anonymous text messages" that are from the same number as the other two women who received similar messages. In addition, she notes that the women received the messages on the same date, Nov. 2, 2019.
"Understanding the links between the messages, I knew that I had to come forward. I cannot stay silent, living in fear," writes Sousa in an Instagram post.
"A lot of personal reflection this past week has brought me here, to share this with you, in an effort to take a stand against racism and hate, and give support to @warnermcdanielagency and the racism she has had to deal with."
Sousa also shares the text messages that she received in her Instagram post. The first message asks if it is her phone, and then there are a series of demeaning, cruel remarks about her weight and appearance.
Vancouver Police Spokesperson Sgt. Aaron Roed tells Vancouver Is Awesome in an email that, "Vancouver Police are actively investigating an incident which involves people from the Vancouver Candle Company."
However, VPD are unable to provide further details because the investigation is ongoing.
On Monday, June 8, Vancouver Candle Co. apologized for, "any hurtful, inappropriate or racial comments," but adds that "there's many things that the original post by Warner McDaniel Agency does not disclose, most of which, due to ongoing litigation since 2019, we are not able to speak to."
In response, the company shared an image that reads, "I f**cked up." Co-owner Rabuchin also authored a caption that accompanies the image, which states, "I said things that are unacceptable, hurtful and contrary to the values of our company. Racism has never been and will never be tolerated at Vancouver Candle Co. My past words are not reflective of what we stand for as a company."
In addition to stating that he is "ashamed and embarrassed, Rabuchin says that he is stepping down from the company: "My partner and I agree that it is best that I step away from Vancouver Candle Co, so the company can continue doing what it does best, without the distractions that I caused. I will take time to focus on becoming a better person, including taking sensitivity training, and I will continue to listen and learn. I promise to do better."
The company's other co-owner is Farouk Babel, Rabuchin's partner.
Retail giant Chapters Indigo states that it will pull all of Vancouver Candle Company's products from its online site and stores. A number of other retailers have done the same.
V.I.A. has reached out to Vancouver Candle Co. for comment and will update the story when information becomes available.
