A Black Chick-fil-A customer expressed that he was “disgusted” and “humiliated” after noticing what a worker had written on his ticket order.
Marquise Vanzego, from Maryland, U.S., claims that when he picked up his food order, he was shocked to find his receipt labeled with something offensive instead of his name.
He has since brought attention to the incident, describing it as a case of racial insensitivity.
Vanzego, who shared his story with Today, claims the incident took place at the Chick-fil-A drive-thru on August 23, 2024.
He recalls that after waiting for his order, he was surprised to hear a Chick-fil-A employee repeatedly calling out a name linked to his order.
At first, Vanzego thought the name couldn’t possibly refer to him. However, when the employee confirmed his order – which included chicken strips, fries, and an Arnold Palmer drink – and mentioned a white van, he felt a sinking sensation.
He compared the feeling to the grief or disappointment of a breakup, adding, “Your heart has that little sting in it.”
Vanzego noted that the experience felt like one of the countless stories he had seen on the news involving racially insensitive situations.
Vanzego said he immediately sought clarification and spoke with the on-duty manager, who apologized and offered a refund for his order.
Later, Vanzego spoke with a store manager who was not present during the incident, but the manager declined to comment publicly.
In the days that followed, Vanzego shared his experience on social media platforms, including Facebook. He posted videos and a letter he had sent to Chick-fil-A corporate regarding the incident.
Online reactions were divided—some people showed sympathy and support, while others raised questions about the cause, speculating that a miscommunication might have occurred due to an intercom issue.
However, Vanzego clarified that he placed the order directly with a young male employee, not through the intercom, making him doubtful that a technical error was the reason.
The customer later spoke with the store’s franchise owner, who offered an apology but also explained that the employee involved, reportedly a minor under 18, would not be fired.
According to Vanzego, the store’s franchise owner explained that the employee had simply written down what he believed he had heard.
The customer feels that this lack of accountability could send a message to the young employee that such actions are acceptable.
“I understand, he’s a young man, he’s 17, he’s still learning,” Vanzego said. “But he also needs to understand that there are consequences for actions like that.”
He added, “When my kids did things, they had to deal with the consequences.”
Chick-fil-A’s corporate office, which does not oversee this independently owned franchise, has issued a general statement.
The statement reads: “This Chick-fil-A is independently franchised and operated. The franchisee of this restaurant has apologized to the guest. However, this experience does not meet our expectations and is unacceptable.”
As for the controversial label printed on the receipt, it read “Monkeys,” a term that has long been used as a racial slur against Black people.
