Woman in Central Park video fired by Franklin Templeton

Woman in Central Park video fired by Franklin Templeton
Amy Cooper, head of insurance investment for the fund company, called the police on an African American man who asked her to put her dog on a leash
MAY 26, 2020
By  Bloomberg

Franklin Templeton fired an employee after a confrontation she had with an African American man in Central Park that was captured on video.

The video shows a white woman with an unleashed dog in a wooded area of the park calling the police.

“There is an African American man,” she said. “He is recording me and threatening myself and my dog.” The video was posted to Twitter by the man’s sister, who wrote that he is an avid birdwatcher and had asked the woman to put her dog on a leash. The man, Christian Cooper, also posted the video online.

The woman, Amy Cooper, the head of insurance investment at the company, issued an apology on CNN.

Cooper’s behavior drew a backlash on social media. After the video was posted on Monday, the firm placed her on leave. Tuesday afternoon, it announced her termination.

“Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately,” a spokeswoman said in a statement. “We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton.”

The company didn’t name the employee.

“I’m not a racist,” Cooper told CNN. “I did not mean to harm that man in any way. I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone, especially to that man, his family.”

She added that her “entire life is being destroyed.”

Central Park rules state that dogs must be leashed at all times in the Ramble, the area where the woman was with her dog.

Franklin Resources Inc. is the parent of Franklin Templeton.

Latest News

JPMorgan tells fintech firms to start paying for customer data
JPMorgan tells fintech firms to start paying for customer data

The move to charge data aggregators fees totaling hundreds of millions of dollars threatens to upend business models across the industry.

FINRA snapshot shows concentration in largest firms, coastal states
FINRA snapshot shows concentration in largest firms, coastal states

The latest snapshot report reveals large firms overwhelmingly account for branches and registrants as trend of net exits from FINRA continues.

Why advisors to divorcing couples shouldn't bet on who'll stay
Why advisors to divorcing couples shouldn't bet on who'll stay

Siding with the primary contact in a marriage might make sense at first, but having both parties' interests at heart could open a better way forward.

SEC spanks closed Osaic RIA for conflicts, over-charging clients on alternatives
SEC spanks closed Osaic RIA for conflicts, over-charging clients on alternatives

With more than $13 billion in assets, American Portfolios Advisors closed last October.

William Blair taps former Raymond James executive to lead investment management business
William Blair taps former Raymond James executive to lead investment management business

Robert D. Kendall brings decades of experience, including roles at DWS Americas and a former investment unit within Morgan Stanley, as he steps into a global leadership position.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.