Employee’s Angry Voicemail to U.S. Senator Sparks Backlash, Forcing Helena Gift Shop to Close
What should have been a busy start to the holiday season has turned into a nightmare for Major and Michelle Robinson, the owners of Sage & Oats Trading Post in downtown Helena. In just two days, their cosy gift shop went from prepping for Christmas shoppers to fighting to stay afloat after being dragged into a national political storm.
It all started on Monday when their store manager, Haley McKnight, warned the couple that a national news story was about to break. Months earlier, McKnight, who was running for a seat on the Helena city commission, had left an angry voicemail for U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy.
Furious over his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, she told him she hoped he’d get cancer and “die in the street like a dog.” Those words resurfaced on the eve of Helena’s local election and quickly went viral, spreading across national media and social platforms.
The Robinsons said they had less than an hour’s notice before the story was published, leaving them completely unprepared for what followed. Their social media pages were soon flooded with hateful and even violent messages. Some accused them of sharing McKnight’s political views, while others called for boycotts and worse. “They literally said that… ‘We hope your store burns to the ground,’” Major Robinson told the Montana Free Press.
The couple suspended McKnight without pay at first, but by Wednesday, they decided to let her go. They said they couldn’t condone the threatening language she used, though firing her was heartbreaking. “This one’s a mistake on a national level,” Major said. “It’s hard because it’s impacting not just us personally, but our business as well.”
Since the story broke, the Robinsons estimate they’ve received thousands of messages. Many came from people who mistakenly believed McKnight owned the shop. Others slammed the couple for employing her in the first place. Fearing for their staff’s safety, they’ve closed Sage & Oats for at least a week. The Helena city election has already come and gone, but the Robinsons still don’t feel safe reopening.
“We didn’t want any of our employees to have to face the public that’s coming in and berating them or doing something even worse,” Major said. The backlash has caused musicians and artisans who were due to appear at the shop’s upcoming art walk to cancel their visits, leaving the couple questioning whether their dream business can recover.
McKnight has since apologised, saying her words were “inexcusable.” “I truly apologise for my words and the damage that they have caused,” she said. “He’s a person, just like me, and no one, regardless of their beliefs, should ever be spoken to like that.” She also stepped down as president of Helena Young Professionals, a local nonprofit, to protect the group from further fallout.
The Robinsons said McKnight accepted her dismissal with understanding. “It doesn’t negate the things she said,” Major admitted. “But it’s still difficult when you know the entire person, not just one thing they’ve done wrong.”
For the couple, the ordeal has shattered years of hard work building their small business, which showcases Native-made crafts and art. “We’re wondering, is the damage irreparable?” Michelle said.