Alleged discriminatory email not authentic: GoDaddy

GoDaddy states it didn’t send email calling job applicant an obese Christian.

GoDaddy has formally denied allegations that it sent an email to a job applicant explaining that it wouldn’t hire him since he was an obese Christian. The denial included detailed steps the firm took to determine the email wasn’t authentic.

Keith Connolly applied for a job with GoDaddy. He later received a rejection email. In addition to the form rejection email he received, he stated the bottom included a forwarded email that read:

regarding keith he’s great for the job in skills but he looks worse for wear do we really want an obeese christian? is that what our fresh image requries of us. (sic)

I’ve been skeptical of Connolly’s story from the get go for multiple reasons:

1. Connolly waited until following the statute of limitations for job discrimination ended ahead of going to the media with his story.

2. In media appearances, Connolly stated he was very embarrassed by the email. In an Indiegogo video, he stated he was “humiliated and embarrassed”. If you were embarrassed regarding being called fat, why on earth would you make a national story out of it?

3. Connolly mentioned to publications that he was trying to create a GoDaddy competitor. It seemed like perhaps he was using this story as a way to attract attention, counting for his Indiegogo campaign.

4. The email allegedly written by someone at GoDaddy has two spelling errors. Connolly’s Indiegogo video has a text overlay that misspells “since”:

5. Christians seem like the last group GoDaddy would discriminate against. Founder Bob Parsons is conservative. Former general counsel Christine Jones often wore a cross necklace. Once, following finding out that a couple GoDaddy Premier Services reps had backgrounds as pastors or went to seminary, I joked with them that it seemed like it was a requirement to work at GoDaddy.

Of course, there can always be one bad apple or idiot at an organization that would send an email like this. GoDaddy has investigated it and states the alleged email was never sent. Given the circumstances, I’m inclined to believe it.