Chick-fil-A receipt contains racist slur
Man receives racist slur on Chick-fil-A receipt, shares shocking experience
Warning: This article contains discussion of racism which some readers may find distressing. A man has shared his distressing experience after receiving a receipt from Chick-fil-A with a racist slur written on it.
Marquise Vanzego visited the La Plata Chick-fil-A in Maryland on Friday, August 23, around 8.00pm and used the drive-thru service. His visit took a shocking turn when he received a receipt featuring a racist slur next to the ‘guest’ section, describing the incident as ‘devastating’.
Vanzego posted a picture of the receipt on Instagram on August 28, showing the slur ‘M*nkeys L1 2583’ in the ‘Guest’ section. He also uploaded a video confronting the restaurant staff. In the video, he can be heard asking a manager if the person who wrote the slur was available to talk. The staff informed him that the employee was no longer there but offered the manager’s contact number.
"IT WAS DEVASTATING": When Chick-fil-A customer Marquise Vanzego got his food at the La Plata, MD location, he says a worker had written "monkeys" instead of his name. Vanzego tells me it was a reminder that racism is still alive @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/qs8aVPkq52
— Aimee Cho (@AimeeCho4) August 29, 2024
Vanzego has since spoken more about the incident, expressing his feelings to News4. He described the experience as ‘devastating,’ saying it reopened old wounds for him as a Black man. He remarked that it reminded him of other incidents of racial profiling he had seen in the news.
In an open letter to Chick-fil-A’s headquarters, Vanzego expressed his ‘outrage and disgust’ over the incident, emphasising that he had clearly communicated his name to the employee.
He mentioned that the on-duty manager apologised and acknowledged there was no excuse for the slur, highlighting that ‘M*nkeys’ is far from resembling ‘Marquise’.
Vanzego described the incident as deeply offensive and humiliating, noting that seeing such a slur as a 52-year-old African American man brought back painful memories of historical racism.
He shared that the store owner told him on August 25, they had spoken to the 17-year-old employee, who claimed to have written the name he thought he heard. The owner decided to stand by the employee and not terminate him.
Vanzego disagreed with this decision, asserting that the situation could have been handled differently and believing the employee should have been held accountable and terminated immediately.
He acknowledged the employee’s young age but stressed the importance of understanding the consequences of such actions.
Vanzego concluded he would no longer visit Chick-fil-A, stating, “Racism is still alive.”
A Chick-fil-A spokesperson commented that the restaurant is independently franchised and operated, and that the franchisee had apologised to Vanzego. They labelled the experience as unacceptable and not meeting their expectations.
For those affected by similar issues and seeking confidential support, the Racial Equity Support Line is available at 503-575-3764 on weekdays from 10am to 7pm PT, or via the Lines for Life Equity Team at [email protected].
What Other Media Are Saying
- Chicago Defender reports on a Maryland Chick-fil-A customer, Marquise Vanzego, who alleges a white employee printed the racial slur “Monkeys” on his receipt instead of his name, “Marquise”. Vanzego expressed deep offense and trauma, noting the incident’s connection to historical racism.(read more)
- UNILAD reports a shocking incident where a customer found a racial slur written on their Chick-fil-A receipt in Maryland, leading to a viral video and an open letter to the CEO, highlighting the devastating impact of such racism and the company’s response.(read more)
- SoMdNews.com reports that La Plata’s Chick-fil-A is under scrutiny after a man noticed his name was replaced with the term “Monkeys” on his receipt, leading to national backlash.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to Marquise Vanzego at Chick-fil-A?
He received a receipt with a racist slur written on it.
How did Vanzego react to the receipt?
He felt devastated and shared his experience on Instagram.
What did the Chick-fil-A franchisee do about the incident?
The franchisee apologized but decided not to terminate the 17-year-old employee.
What was Vanzego’s opinion on the franchisee’s decision?
He disagreed and believed the employee should have been terminated.
How can someone affected by racism get support?
Contact the Racial Equity Support Line at 503-575-3764.
