Michelle Obama and Cheeta

Straight from the Volunteer State comes a clear message to all employers and employees: “Don’t do this!” A sub-message might be: “Fix your CEO’s computer so he can’t forward emails to anyone!”

The CEO of a Tennessee hospitality organization forwarded an email to various government officials, public relations colleagues, and friends in which First Lady Michelle Obama is compared to Cheeta, Tarzan’s chimp sidekick. The email contained a picture of the First Lady and a picture of Cheeta.

Once the email became public, to say that it was met with shock and outrage is a gross understatement. The incident has Tennesseans so worked up that their original disbelief has given way to extreme anger and shame.

How many ”humorous” emails have your forwarded today? How closely did you review them? Could the Cheeta incident be construed as evidence of racial animus on the part of the CEO and his organization? Well, duh!

It’s easy to see how the now-pulverized CEO could have made his mistake. After all, the email began with a quote attributed to Larry the Cable Guy: “I don’t care who you are, this is funny . . . .” The email ended with the pictures.

Lesson #1. Don’t forward any email that purports to contain a quote from Larry the Cable Guy. If you don’t know who Larry the Cable Guy is, take my word for it. What he says is highly likely to offend individuals, groups, protected classes, and people not easily offended.

Lesson #2. There are some gaffes that are so inexplicable that you are forever unforgiven. They go way beyond “What were you thinking?” You can apologize. You can cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes. You’re still toast.

I suppose employment lawyers will always have plenty of work to do.