Editor's note: This article has been updated to include a statement from Gun Oil founder and CEO Scott Fraser.
Gun Oil — one of the most popular and longest-running brands of personal lubricants among gay men — is facing very public accusations directed at the product's parent company, Empowered Products, and founder/CEO, Scott Fraser. Over the last few days, an alleged group of dissenting employees seized control of the brand's social media pages and used them to share complaints.
Notably, the former staffers who are seemingly running these brand pages accused Fraser, Gun Oil, and Empowered Products of "wage theft and labor exploitation" in an X post from Friday, November 21 — adding that the company "failed to pay $21,067 USD in overdue salaries and invoices owed to seven agencies/contractors," not to mention that the brand allegedly "refuses to pay its freelancers, marketers, creatives, and agencies."
Out contacted Gun Oil and its parent company, Empowered Products, for comment. In response, founder and CEO Scott Fraser alleged that the "negative content" that contributed to this discourse came from a "long-time employee dismissed for extensive malfeasance," adding that a police report against that individual has been filed with the Las Vegas Metro Police's Financial Crimes unit.
On Saturday, November 22, a pro-Gun Oil group of individuals attempted to dismiss the claims shared on X via an Instagram grid post. "The post was from the real GUN OIL," the caption read.
"Dear GUN OIL fans, we are terribly sorry about all the crazy posts over the past few weeks. We are dealing with people who have no legal right to post on our behalf. Nor do they know all the information. There have been major managerial issues this year that have now turned into a legal matter. This is being handled right now. Hopefully this goes away once and for all. If you have any questions/concerns just call our office."
That Instagram statement, which attempted to defend the company, audio-tagged the grid post with Madonna's "Sorry" — a song famously about the pop star not apologizing. In it, she sings, "I don't wanna hear / I don't wanna know/ Please don't say 'Forgive me' / I've seen it all before and I / Can't take it anymore" to the person who hurt her.
Gun Oil via Instagram.Instagram (@gunoil)
That Instagram statement — which suggested that the former employees were just mad at the company and made false accusations along the way — angered the group even more, and other well-known figures in the LGBTQ+ community joined in.
"This has been a mess from both sides, very hard for customers or your ambassadors to feel comfortable after all this. Instead of a faceless post, can an actual human make a video and speak up," Teddy Bar noted. "As of right now, there is no reason to believe anyone since it's just been text back and forth, and putting a face to it gives customers/ambassadors a chance to decide what is actually happening."
Gun Oil and Teddy Bear Instagram.Instagram (@gunoil)
Jordi Massive, another brand ambassador for the Gun Oil, wrote:
"Yes, I really need the full story. I agree with @mrteddybeargrr that customers and ambassadors have absolutely lost trust and don't know what to believe."
Gun Oil and Jordi Massive via Instagram.Instagram (@gunoil)
