Andy Frisella, founder of the health supplement company 1st Phorm, is facing significant backlash for controversial comments made about female police officers on his podcast, “Real AF.” Following the incident, 1st Phorm’s co-founder and CEO, Sal Frisella—who is also Andy’s brother—issued a public statement distancing both himself and the company from Andy’s remarks.
During the podcast, Andy Frisella appeared to question the competence of female police officers, suggesting they try to “emasculate men.” He went further, stating, “There’s a lot of police officers, and to be completely honest, especially women police officers, who fing try to emasculate men. And that’s why, in my opinion, women shouldn’t be in the fing field and police officers. I just don’t think they should be.”
These comments quickly sparked outrage on social media, with numerous individuals, including female law enforcement officers, accusing Frisella of misogyny. In the wake of the growing backlash, Sal Frisella stepped in to clarify that his brother’s views do not reflect those of 1st Phorm. “The clip originated from his personal podcast, which is not affiliated with 1st Phorm, and the comments made towards women in law enforcement do not reflect the views of 1st Phorm,” Sal Frisella stated. “We do not agree with his statements, and we do not condone the words or the context in which they were presented.”
Despite the company’s efforts to separate itself from Andy’s statements, the controversy has not subsided. Andy Frisella issued an apology in an attempt to mitigate the situation, acknowledging that his remarks were overgeneralizations. “Did I overgeneralize? Yeah, for sure, and I do that sometimes. That’s the nature of how I speak,” he admitted. He further expressed regret, stating, “I said some things on the show on Thursday that, after thinking about it and having it pointed out to me, I feel very regretful for saying. It doesn’t reflect who I am.” However, many have found his apology insufficient, arguing that it fails to address the deeper issue of the perceived misogyny in his statements.
Adding to the fallout, law enforcement agencies such as the St. Louis County and St. Louis Metropolitan police departments publicly condemned Andy Frisella’s comments. Both agencies announced that they would be severing all ties with him, further amplifying the backlash against the 1st Phorm founder.
The controversy has put 1st Phorm in a difficult position, as the company’s reputation and public perception are now intertwined with Andy’s statements, despite Sal Frisella’s efforts to distance the brand. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential ramifications public figures and business leaders face when their personal views come under scrutiny, especially when those views appear to undermine the competencies of professionals in fields like law enforcement.
The unfolding situation around Andy Frisella’s comments underscores the societal debate surrounding gender roles in traditionally male-dominated professions. As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen how both 1st Phorm and Andy Frisella will navigate the repercussions of this public controversy.