Restaurant fires employee who slipped homophobic note into customer's bag
A restaurant fired an employee who tucked a note containing a homophobic slur into a customer’s bag.
Yesterdays Restaurant & Tavern in Columbia, South Carolina, apologized on its Facebook page Sunday for the worker’s actions.
“This is a serious matter and we’re treating it as such,” read the note. “While the employee in question was dismissed on the spot this is by no means the end of our commitment to the local LBGTQ community. We have always supported this community but will step up our efforts and involve our employees. Hopefully, we can use this as a learning opportunity not just for the employee in question but all of our staff.”
The tavern said that it held two staff meetings to “address this terrible breach of our values” and is planning a training session with the help of an LGBT advocate.
According to The State, a woman named Cyntrell Jones Legette posted on Facebook that after celebrating her mother’s birthday at the establishment Sunday, a kitchen worker put the note into her friend’s bag which read, “F**,” the homophobic slur.
“The manager tried to excuse this disgusting behavior by calling it a joke,” posted Jones Legette. “There’s nothing funny about being disrespected. Please don’t patronize them.”
Jones Legette commented under Yesterday’s Facebook, “I’m the one who made the original post. I am not angry at the owners if they are true to their word and do not uphold this behavior.”
She pointed to a possible explanation from the manager, writing, “It was never a joke between employees. I’ve never heard anyone refer to a female as a f**. It’s also too coincidental for that note to have ended up in the bag of a gay man.”
And Jones Legette denied that she and her friends seek attention or freebies for writing the post: “I always have and will continue to stand up for those who are bullied and mistreated. Have a great night everyone.”
A representative of Yesterday’s Restaurant and Tavern and Jones Legette did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.
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