A local Ontario real estate agent was recently fired after a video of him yelling at a neighbour went viral over the weekend — causing online outrage.
Real estate agent Jeff Blackham, formerly of Keller Williams Realty, Inc., was caught on video screaming at a person off-camera.
In the video, Blackham can be heard using profane language and a slur used to denigrate the lesbian community.
What happened?
The video was originally posted to Facebook with the caption: “Not cool. This is realtor Jeff Blackham from Keller Williams.”
After the video started going viral, the original poster added some clarity to the story.
Passionate Local Realtor Jeff Blackham
byu/odausrel inwaterloo
Allegedly, the original poster’s neighbour goes to park in her driveway after work, only to be blocked by Blackman waving her way.
After parking on the street, Blackman then allegedly came up to her car and gave her “the finger” and told her “she couldn’t stay there because he doesn’t want her in his video.”
He was allegedly filming a promotional video for a nearby property and the person’s driveway was in his shot, to which she got out and confronted him, then escalating to what is seen on video.
Termination of Blackman
Shortly after the video’s circulation, Keller Williams Realty Inc. issued a statement denouncing the behaviour and language was not reflective of “the values, culture, or professional standards we stand for at Keller Williams Innovation” — but clarified they were launching an internal review “guided by [their] policies and values.”
One day later, Keller Williams posted yet another statement to announce that, after their “thorough review,” they have terminated their relationship with Blackman.
“Discriminatory or hateful behaviour has no place in our office, our industry, or our community,” reads the statement.
“We remain committed to fostering an environment that reflects our values of inclusion, accountability, and mutual respect.”
In a now-deleted Google review, Blackman clarified that after “receiving 6 F bombs,” he got upset and said something inappropriate. “Not at all how I feel and I do apologize,” the response reads. “I was shooting a video and reacted out of character and sincerely apologize for the decision.”
What the comments are saying
Redditors in the comments were having a field day. “You can hear his career tanking if you listen closely,” reads one comment.
“Wow, a slur over a parking spot,” reads another comment. “I hope this [guy] never sells a house again.”
blogTO has reached out for official comment to Keller Williams Realty Inc. without response, and Jeff Blackman’s social media profiles are all now marked as “private” or have since been deleted.
