Family First Credit Union Fires CEO Over AI Photo

Family First Credit Union terminated CEO Jane Smith effective September 24 following a social media controversy. The removal stems from a Facebook photo showing Smith and her family wearing sweatshirts labeled Lake America, a reference to an August 27 executive order by President Donald Trump to rename Lake Ontario amid a trade war with Canada.

Smith claimed the image was an AI-generated joke created via ChatGPT and that her family never actually owned or wore the clothing. While she stated the original post on her private page included an AI label, her sister reposted the image publicly without the warning. The post included a caption mocking Canada's likely reaction, which sparked community backlash and death threats that forced Smith to cut a trip to Halifax, Canada, short.

The credit union board described the conduct as unacceptable and inconsistent with professional standards. Family First Credit Union issued a public apology and stated it unequivocally disapproves of the post, though the board declined to discuss specific departure details citing the Michigan Credit Union Act. Chief Operations Officer Jason Acosta has been appointed interim CEO.