Lululemon’s CEO defended his company’s decision to terminate two employees who called the police as three masked men robbed their Georgia store location.

Calvin McDonald, the head of the Vancouver-based retailer, cited Lululemon’s “zero-tolerance policy” on engaging thieves when asked during a recent interview about the firing of Jennifer Ferguson and Rachel Rogers, a pair of workers who confronted thieves and called the police at their shop in Peachtree City, located in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft. Why? Because we put the safety of our team, of our guests, front and center. It’s only merchandise,” he told CNBC.

When pressed, McDonald claimed that the employees were not fired for calling the police but because they broke company policy by “engaging the thieves across multiple points, including following them out of the store.”

Ferguson — who was an assistant manager — told NBC’s local affiliate 11Alive that when a robbery occurs, workers are told to “scan a QR code. And that’s that. We’ve been told not to put it in any notes, because that might scare other people. We’re not supposed to call the police, not really supposed to talk about it.”

The robbery at the Peachtree City location is part of a trend of retail theft across the nation which has brought increased attention to the risks faced by employees, shopper safety, and rising prices.

McDonald admitted that “retail theft and shrink has been a growing topic.” The CEO stated that the company is investing under three “pillars”: training, technology, and working with law enforcement. 

“We take that policy seriously because we have had instances — and we have seen with other retailers, instances — where employees step in and are hurt, or worse, killed,” McDonald said. “And the policy is to protect them. But we have to stand behind the policy to enforce it.”

Four men have been arrested and charged after multiple Lululemon stores were ransacked around the Atlanta area, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

The public’s help and officers’ quick action sends a message to thieves that “you will not get away with it, and we have the court systems to support us as well to ensure that you’re tied up in it for a long enough time to where you’re not going to be committing these crimes in the future, at least not in our area,” said Lt. Chris Hyatt of the Peachtree City Police Department.

A “Pride Party” for “all” ages in Tempe, Arizona, featured content inappropriate for children, including songs about anal sex, and a call for attendees to vote for Democrats.

The event featured a performance from rapper Brandon Hale, stage name RealXman, who sang a song with lyrics about anal sex and converting straight men gay through sex acts.

This is the LGBTQ rapper REALXMAN rapping about GAY/ANAL SEX to INFANTS that the city of Tempe approved

His IG promotes the belief that members of the LGBTQ community are Divine Beings and should be revered as such

Watch: https://t.co/bwLdqEDwsF

Event Details:… pic.twitter.com/aSum3KNYR9

— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) June 5, 2023

Multiple young children can be seen in attendance in videos posted to social media. Some children are dressed in rainbow “Pride” gear and are with dancing adults.

Alcohol was reportedly served at the event.

The “Pride Party” was held on Saturday, June 3, from 7 to 10 p.m. at CenterPoint Plaza. Admission was free.

The event was hosted by the nonprofit group Downtown Tempe, which “works in partnership with the City of Tempe,” according to its website.

“The countdown begins! Tomorrow we’re kicking off Pride Month with the FIRST Pride Party in Downtown Tempe!” the group said in an Instagram post.

The group specifically promoted the event as being open to all ages.

“All people and ages welcome,” Downtown Tempe wrote in the Instagram post.

The event featured RealXman’s “electric and one-of-a-kind performance,” dancing, “clowning,” acrobatics, free wellness medical exams, silent disco, and an after party at the local Westin hotel’s rooftop lounge.

Local drag queen Barbra Seville served as MC and urged attendees to register to vote and become politically active.

“How many of you are actually registered to vote?” Seville asked the crowd. “No shame if you’re not!”

“It’s not too late to register for the next election and turn the tide of all of the hate, the anti-gay nonsense in the state House, the anti-gay nonsense in the Senate, the anti-gay nonsense in Florida, in the United States,” Seville said. “It’s insane!”

Seville went on to condemn “over 500” pieces of legislation and celebrated that Tennessee’s law restricting drag shows where children might be present was just declared unconstitutional by a federal judge.

“So that’s pretty incredible,” he said.

Seville said he has testified at the Arizona state capitol in Phoenix “on behalf of drag entertainers and gender expression and LGBTQ people.”

“So if we could just elect one more person with views and opinions and commitments to us like some other people do, we can call the shots, we can protect LGBTQ youth, we can protect trans people, we can protect people of color, we can make housing a priority, we can tackle things like guns in schools, but we can’t do it unless you all get involved and register to vote,” Seville said.

“Say, ‘Yes, Barbra,'” Seville said, pointing the microphone at the audience.

“Yes, Barbra!” the crowd responded.

Tempe Vice Mayor Jennifer Adams, a Democrat, also delivered remarks to the crowd wearing a giant rainbow boa around her neck and a shirt that read, “Don’t get mad, get elected.”

Adams said she is the “first open lesbian ever elected to city council.”

“So if you guys are interested in politics, we always are welcoming newcomers to the field,” she said.

“Pride” parades and celebrations are kicking off around the U.S. this month, many including adult content.

In West Hollywood, California, a “Pride” parade included a mostly naked man wearing leather standing in the back of a pickup truck while another leather-clad man whipped the first man’s rear with a leather whip.

And of course, the de rigeuer BDSM/leather contingent brought the usual sexualized violence. It wouldn’t be PR$DE without them! pic.twitter.com/G6wksvziXG

— Belissa Cohen #NoFemaleLanguage4Men (@BelissaCohen) June 5, 2023