A woman has been dismissed from her job after leaving a racist message on a restaurant bill, sparking public outrage and an online backlash.
The incident occurred at Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Columbus, Ohio, where the customer wrote “I hope Trump deports you!!!” on the signature line of her receipt. Instead of leaving a tip on her $87.84 bill, she added, “Zero, you suck,” followed by the offensive comment.
A restaurant employee later shared a photo of the receipt on Facebook, where it quickly went viral.
Through online research, the name on the bill, Stephanie Lovins, was soon identified. It was revealed that Lovins had been a real estate agent with Century 21, one of the world’s largest residential real estate firms, for 27 years.
Following public criticism, Lovins attempted to defend herself in a local Facebook group, claiming that her credit card had been lost or stolen and used fraudulently.
She stated she had been overwhelmed with notifications regarding the incident but was focused on resolving the matter with her bank. Lovins blamed the situation on “scammers and profile hackers,” thanking her followers for their patience.
However, restaurant marketing manager Fabio Oribio reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed that Lovins was indeed the person who wrote the note, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
As a result, she has been terminated from her job. A spokesperson for Century 21 issued a statement, saying, “Hate has no place within the Century 21 brand, and we are taking this very seriously.” The company confirmed that after an investigation, Lovins was no longer affiliated with the organization.
The restaurant also addressed the incident in a social media post, emphasizing its commitment to “respect, tolerance, and acceptance.”
The statement condemned the act of discrimination, highlighting that the targeted waiter, Ricardo, is a U.S. citizen working two jobs. The post noted that while the restaurant was busy that day, it remained unclear what prompted the customer to leave such a remark.
In response, supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to compensate Ricardo for the tip he deserved. The fundraiser has since surpassed $8,800.
The incident comes amid growing tensions over immigration policies in the United States, as former President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Cases similar to Lovins’ firing have become more frequent in recent years. Recently, a public official resigned after a video surfaced of her making a hand gesture resembling a Nazi salute during an event.
Additionally, a man in Florida lost his job after issuing death threats and slurs against a left-wing TikTok influencer, claiming, “This is Florida … they don’t fire us for this. Hahah.”
Such incidents have fueled online discussions, with many referring to them as FAFO (Fk Around, Find Out),** highlighting the consequences faced by individuals engaging in discriminatory behavior.
Here is the rewritten news report incorporating all key details from the original content while avoiding plagiarism. Let me know if you need any modifications.
