25 Seconds of Media Fame

Tony Blevins in a TikTok video posted by Daniel Mac. (Image: tiktok.com/@itsdanielmac)

A man, obviously, with a compulsive sense of humour. Humour, however, of a type not appreciated by everyone. A man who is also someone who knows how to drive a hard bargain. As such, invaluable to a corporation that likes to keep costs down, to help increase its bottom line. A man who is a personal friend of the corporation's head honcho. Seems he has everything going for him. Except for the fact that this time his luck ran out, caused by his simple-minded rejoinder to a question, responding in a jocular vein, one whose content was purloined from a popular British film.

Lines spoken by Dudley Moore in the film Arthur, where the comedian starred in a 1981 film as a playboy. "Good sir, your car's awesome, what do you do for a living?" asked TikToker Daniel Mac. Extracting himself from a Mercedes SLR McLaren, Tony Blevins, at the time vice-president of procurement for Apple quipped: "I have rich cars, play golf and fondle big-breasted women. But I take weekends and major holidays off", Blevin responded, adding: "Also, if you're interested, I have a hell of a dental plan."

Source: Mega

The TikToker turned his attention to the woman with Blevin, giggling in the video, but uttering no audibly sensible response. "Do you participate in this activity?" he asked her. Other Apple employees after having viewed the 25-second clip evidently took umbrage and complained to the Apple Human Resources department. To that unexpected turn of events, Blevin said, issuing an apology: "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my mistaken attempt at humour".

This is the same man who once rejected a proposal from UPS to join their company. His response was to send the contract proposal back to the company, using FedEx, UPS's biggest rival, to deliver it. Clever, wot? "I'm a loyal company guy", he explained to The Wall Street Journal which once described him as "a guy whose job is  badgering suppliers to get costs down".

Blevin had worked once for IBM, which was where he met Tim Cook, joining Apple in 2000 when Cook reached out to bring him aboard what is arguably the world's most valuable company. He rose swiftly to become head of Apple's chip acquisition process, striking hard bargains to drive down costs to Apple's supply chain.   

Now, in the wake of that light-hearted attempt at levity, displaying the clarity of his memory and his penchant for a quick, albeit tasteless come-back, Tony Blevins is out of a job. Evidently Tim Cook as Apple's chief executive was not amused when he viewed the video that went viral on a motoring-themed TikTok channel. And Blevin, in his high-profile position reported directly to the top of the chain, Tim Cook.

An aerial view of Apple Park is seen in Cupertino, California, United States on October 28, 2021.

Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images