The former CEO of US-based credit union Family First has left the company days after posting a photo of his family wearing “Lake America” sweatshirts that was allegedly edited with AI.
A statement posted on the company’s website Wednesday said Jane Smith will be stepping down from Family First “immediately” and Chief Operating Officer Jason Acosta will serve as interim CEO. It was signed by Maurice Patterson, Chairman of the Family First Credit Union Board of Directors, and Mr. Acosta.
Family First did not say whether this reaction was the reason for Smith’s departure, although it posted on Thursday that it “sincerely apologizes for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused to our members and community.”
Family First is based in Michigan, which borders Canada.
Smith posted a photo on Facebook on Sept. 11 with the caption, “Do you like our sweatshirts? I don’t know if Canada would do that. LOL.”
The post has since been deleted from Facebook, according to CBC News.
Last month, US President Donald Trump declared that Lake Ontario on the US-Canada border would be renamed “American Lakes,” sparking a huge backlash from Canadians, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and even the animated comedy South Park, which changed its name to “South America” on the US president’s orders.
In a Sept. 17 interview with Michigan’s ABC12 News, Smith said the photo included an AI marker but was later reposted by her sister without it.
“We weren’t trying to make a political statement,” Smith was quoted as saying. “But we were kind of teasing the fact that we know one of the names of the Great Lakes is being changed.”
In an earlier statement to ABC12 News, Family First said it “specifically does not acknowledge and reject the content of the social media posts involving our CEO Jane Smith.”
U.S. Rep. Timothy Kennedy (D.Y.) has also introduced legislation to block President Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario and ban any future name changes to the Great Lakes.
