Ashley Bays took her 2 ½ year old, Grayson with her when she went to the M-Spa salon in Portage, Michigan. She wanted Grayson to have a haircut, as he had before. Grayson, who’s autistic, sat in her lap. When the electric clipper began to buzz, he clung to his mother and wept inconsolably.

(Why an electric clipper? Those things scare me. This is M-Spa, not M-Bootcamp.)

The owner of the salon, Michelle Mott, rushed up to Bays and berated her, saying that Grayson was out of control and the other patrons shouldn’t be subjected to his crying. The other customers are said to have fallen silent in shock. “I’m so sorry, he’s autistic,” Bays said. Mott kept ranting.

Bays picked up Grayson, and left the salon. The stylist followed her, and cut Grayson’s hair outside.

A distressed customer who witnessed this posted on Facebook about it. Vanessa Hunt said she would never go back to M-Spa. Grayson’s crying wasn’t a problem, she said. “Heck, the music was still louder than the little boy.”

That post got thousands of “Likes.” Someone else started a Facebook page to boycott M-Spa. Yes, it went viral.

Alarmed, Mott acted. Her attorney issued a ghastly statement saying “spa ownership addressed a situation which posed both an immediate, increasing safety concern to the child and a concern for other spa patrons. Despite inflammatory comments to the contrary, under the circumstances then present, M-Spa handled this matter appropriately.” It ended by saying “out of respect for all parties involved, the spa will have no further comment at this time.” Yeah, right, you’re protecting the family’s privacy.

Naturally this made things worse. “Safety concern”? Interviewed by local news, Bays was definite that Grayson wasn’t thrashing around, kicking, waving his arms, or hurling electric clippers. He was just sobbing. She commented tearfully that she had thought M-Spa would apologize.

Since the outrage (and boycotting) continued, Michelle Mott did issue an apology, at the top of M-Spa’s web page. Why am I not surprised that it was a bad one?

To say that the last few days at M-Spa have been challenging is an understatement. We are all aware of the significant attention given to a Facebook posting regarding a recent haircut for one of our spa’s youngest customers. Social media has been used to create an impression of me and this event in ways which do not fairly reflect who I am and which seek to silence differing viewpoints about what occurred. While this is very unfortunate, I am not going to review those differences here.

Rather, I want to say that my actions were not intended to create any hardship or embarrassment for little Grayson or his parents. And while I believed that Grayson’s parents understood that, when Mrs. Bays stayed for her highlight and cut at our spa right after Grayson had left with his father, I want to reassure the Bays family of this point. I apologize to Grayson and the Bays for any embarrassment or hardship that they have experienced by my actions.

We look forward to better days ahead and we will continue to strive to be the best spa in southwest Michigan. To those who have voiced displeasure with me or with my spa over this incident, I will work hard to regain your faith in our services. To those who have indicated that my business should be boycotted, I would ask only that you consider the impact of such a boycott upon the many families who derive some portion or all of their livelihood from our spa. To those who have withheld judgment or have voiced support over the last few days, including my treasured customers and employees, I extend my heartfelt appreciation.

First paragraph: I have been wronged, but I am too noble to give the details. By the way, censorship.

Second paragraph: I never intended that my actions would have consequences. I intended to yell at a customer without upsetting her, her kid, or other customers. Obviously Mrs Bays secretly agrees, because she didn’t cancel. (Yes, she colors her hair.) Look, I used the words “I apologize.” Also, you can tell I am kind, because I call that infernal child “little” Grayson.

Third paragraph: Stop the boycott! Even if you hate me, think of my employees.

Sigh.

In addition, the use of “hardship” minimizes the event. No one complained of hardship, so the word seems meant to make us think, ‘Big deal. It’s not like they lost a limb. Or got evicted. Or got a flattop when they asked for a fauxhawk.’

It’s a terrible apology. I’d like to see Mott try again. I’m hoping she also spoke to the Bays family directly, not just on the website, although I’m not sure she did. But I don’t think she should be driven out of business. The stylist who followed them outside and finished cutting Grayson’s hair sounds nice. I would be happy to have her do my hair, if she promises not to come near me with the buzzy thing.