Chipotle has announced a $10,000 donation to a fundraiser for an ICE officer involved in the shooting of a Minneapolis protester, trying to distance itself from billionaire investor Bill Ackman. This move has led to online calls for boycotting the restaurant chain, where Ackman’s firm once held a significant stake.
The company stated, “Bill Ackman has no connection to Chipotle,” in a brief comment on Threads. This unusual public clarification pointed to Ackman’s politically sensitive role and his history as a high-profile investor in the company.
The statement was prompted after Ackman was identified as a major donor to a GoFundMe campaign supporting Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who fatally shot left-wing activist Renee Nicole Good during protests in Minneapolis.
Ackman later described the incident on X as a “tragedy,” defending the officers’ actions as part of their efforts to do their jobs. He portrayed Good as a protester whose “split-second actions” led to her death, perhaps reflecting a complex view of the situation.
This donation ignited immediate backlash, with activists and some public figures urging a boycott, mistakenly believing that Ackman was still an owner of Chipotle. Some social media users urged people not to eat at the chain, claiming a direct connection between Ackman’s donation and the shooting.
In response, Chipotle’s statement aimed to clarify that Ackman was not linked to the chain anymore.
Online, calls for boycotting continued, with negative sentiments following Ackman’s donation, which one activist labeled a “bounty” for Good’s death.
Ackman had significant influence in Chipotle’s recent history. In 2016, as the company faced food safety scandals and declining sales, his hedge fund bought a 9.9% stake, becoming one of its largest shareholders. He advocated for major changes, successfully pushing for new leadership and strategic reform that led to a recovery in the company’s performance.
However, Ackman’s stake gradually diminished, and by the end of 2025, his firm had completely exited its investment in Chipotle, officially ending nearly a decade-long involvement.
Recently, Chipotle confirmed in a third-quarter earnings call that Ackman’s fund sold its final shares, signaling a complete break from their previous ties. The Post has attempted to reach both Ackman and Chipotle for further comments.
