Discover video-sourced quotes by politicians

Elizabeth Warren: “The Toys R Us CEO, a friend of the private equity company…”

Featuring: Elizabeth Warren, Democratic | U.S. Senate, Massachusetts

How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More.

Published May 21, 2026 | Video Starts at 03:37

What really sank the company was the burden of payments Toys R Us had to make to private equity. And here's the worst part. What came next? The PE Company made out like bandits. The Toys R Us CEO, a friend of the private equity company, got a nice salary and then took a $2.8 million bonus. Oh, and the workers who lost their jobs and their retirement plans, they were given severance packages amounting to $60 per person. 60. I'll say that again. (03:37–03:48)

CLAIM

Asserts that the CEO received a substantial bonus amid the company's financial troubles.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

Discover more from

Elizabeth Warren

“Companies bought by private equity firms are 10 times more likely to go bankrupt than those that aren't.”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 01:07-01:15
“Over 13 years, Toys R Us ended up shelling out $464 million, nearly half a billion dollars to the private equity companies.”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 02:07-02:18
“Workers who lost their jobs and their retirement plans, they were given severance packages amounting to $60 per person.”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 03:49-04:01
“Private equity bought Toys R Us back in 2005, and at the time, the company had over $11 billion in revenue.”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 01:35-01:45
“Toys R Us had to declare bankruptcy despite the destruction they caused.”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 02:55-03:02
“Washington has done very little to rein in these [private equity] firms or to ensure that their incentives align with the best interests of…”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 04:49-04:58
“I have a bill to make this illegal. The bill is called Stop Wall Street Looting Act.”
How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Claire's, and More. | Uploaded May 21, 2026 | 05:24-05:31