Judi Austell, owner of Judi’s Shear Pleasure in Peotone, Illinois, found herself indirectly involved in a local controversy when her client, Roy Hupke, a Peotone village trustee, faced criticism for a series of controversial Facebook posts. Hupke, who had served as a trustee since 2011, announced his resignation following public outcry over the posts.
The posts, made on Hupke’s personal, publicly viewable Facebook page, included an image of a car hitting people with the caption “all lives splatter” and another post targeting Hillary Clinton. However, the most contentious post expressed Hupke’s desire for career-ending injuries for NFL players who knelt during the national anthem.
Peotone Village President Steve Cross stated that the village had no official comment on Hupke’s personal opinions, emphasizing that the comments were private. Cross confirmed that Hupke, 62, had been re-elected in the previous year. The incident sparked debate about the appropriateness of public officials sharing personal views on social media.
Austell, when approached for comment, stated she hadn’t seen the posts and was unaware of the specific obligations of a village trustee regarding social media use. She described Hupke as a “very verbal man” who speaks from the heart.
Beyond his role as a village trustee, Hupke was also employed as an engineer at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. The hospital released a statement distancing themselves from Hupke’s views, stating the post did not reflect their values and that the matter was under internal investigation.
Hupke later admitted to ABC7 that his anger regarding the anthem protests “got the best of him” and that his statement may have “gone too far.” Following the controversy, Hupke deleted his Facebook page and announced his resignation from public office. The incident highlights the potential consequences of expressing controversial opinions on social media, particularly for those holding public positions.
