CHICOPEE — City Councilor William Courchesne issued a formal apology Tuesday night after coming under fire for posting what critics and some fellow city councilors described as a racially insensitive meme on his Facebook page.
At the end of a four-hour meeting and during a time when city councilors each have a chance to make comments that can include updating constituents about ongoing issues, announcing upcoming events and even offering birthday wishes, Courchesne read a short statement saying he regrets hurting anyone, even if it was unintentional.
“My sharing of the post was not meant to be offensive and for anyone who did find it offensive, I again am sorry. For that reason I have removed the post,” he said.
The post, which Courchesne shared on July 11, features White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, a Black woman, next to a still from a comedy act of actor Jamie Foxx in costume with the caption “Good luck getting this out of your head.”
Courchesne said he posted it only to his personal Facebook page and thought he limited the people who could see it to close friends and family, but later learned he erred when activating privacy settings so it was open to the general public. He added no comments when he shared it.
“I shared a meme of two Black people making the same facial expressions that were so identical they could have been twins,” he said. “I simply found humor in the fact that two people many years apart could make such an identical expression which is why I believe the post was created by the original creator.”
Courchesne said humor, like art, is subjective. After talking to some friends he now realizes how some people are offended by the meme.
He said he didn’t think of it being a racial issue until he started hearing some backlash mainly through the media. City Councilor Shane Brooks called the meme “racially insensitive” and “tasteless” and Mayor John L. Vieau called it “extremely distasteful” when asked about the issue by a MassLive reporter.
But Courchesne has not faced the firestorm of criticism that City Councilor Lucien Galecki did in 2021 when he essentially said in a Facebook conversation with another resident that women who dress provocatively and go to bars with questionable reputations should not be surprised when they are sexually harassed.
After that statement, Brooks, who was the council president at the time, removed Galecki from all committees. Residents picketed City Hall before a Council meeting demanding his resignation. Galecki remained on the council but did not run for reelection, but he will attempt to recapture the Ward 3 seat in the upcoming election.
Courchesne is also on the ballot and running unopposed for the Ward 7 seat he has held since 2016.
“My life has been about helping people and I think I’ve proven that through the City Council,” he said. “Thankfully people have seen my work and know me and know I would never post anything to offend anybody. It hurt me to the core that someone would think of me as that kind of person. It’s not who I am at all.”
Courchesne is also a corrections officer for the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. Officials are investigating his post but he has not been placed on any type of leave.
Union officials have told him not to talk about the issue, which is why Courchesne said he chose to air his apology only as a city councilor and during the time available to him in the meeting.
He said he has learned the hard way to be careful and more thoughtful before putting something on social media.
“I want to thank everyone who has reached out publicly and privately with their support. I’m humbled that you continue to trust me even when I am not perfect,” he said in his apology.
