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Kempczinski acknowledged the text exchange in a note sent to McDonald's U.S. corporate employees, which was viewed by ABC News.

\"In the text exchange, I thanked Mayor Lightfoot for the visit and reflected on our conversation about the recent tragedies, commenting that 'the parents failed those kids,'\" the CEO wrote. \"When I wrote this, I was thinking through my lens as a parent and reacted viscerally.\"

\"But I have not walked in the shoes of Adam’s or Jaslyn’s family and so many others who are facing a very different reality,\" Kempczinski added. \"Not taking the time to think about this from their viewpoint was wrong, and lacked the empathy and compassion I feel for these families. This is a lesson that I will carry with me.\"

Kempczinksi lamented the \"senseless surge in gun violence that is affecting so many children,\" adding that, \"it is also clear to me that everyone has a role to play.\"

\"Quite simply, it is on all of us to do better for the children of our communities,\" the CEO stated, saying he was committed to working with civic leaders and elected officials to \"understand what that means for McDonald's.\"

Lightfoot did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Thursday, but a spokesperson for the mayor told told WLS-TV: \"Victim shaming has no place in this conversation.\"

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