Three Applebee's employees have been fired amid allegations that they racially profiled two African-American women dining at a location in Missouri over the weekend, company officials said.
St. Louis resident Alexis Brison was having dinner with a friend at an Applebee's in Independence, Mo., on Saturday when their feast of buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks was interrupted by a police officer, a mall security guard and a restaurant manager. To Brison and her friend's surprise, the trio accused them of "dining and dashing" at the same location the night before.
"We have not been here before. We're just trying to enjoy our dinner," Brison can be heard saying in a video of the encounter that she posted to Facebook.
"This is what black people have to deal with," she added, as the officer continued to ask them questions.
Applebee's did not take Brison's allegations lightly.
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"After an internal investigation and in line with our values, the franchisee terminated the manager, server and another employee involved in the incident," the restaurant chain said in a statement Monday night. "We do not tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment of any nature."
The Independence location has also been temporarily shut down, company officials said, so that staff can "regroup, reflect, learn and grow from this."
"We very much regret this occurred and sincerely apologize to our guests and community," the company said.
Brison pointed out the tragic irony in the fact that this incident occurred during Black History Month.
"Just because we are black does not mean we are all criminals and I will not be treated as such," she capped off her post.
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St. Louis resident Alexis Brison was having dinner with a friend at an Applebee's in Independence, Mo., on Saturday when their feast of buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks was interrupted by a police officer, a mall security guard and a restaurant manager. To Brison and her friend's surprise, the trio accused them of "dining and dashing" at the same location the night before.
"We have not been here before. We're just trying to enjoy our dinner," Brison can be heard saying in a video of the encounter that she posted to Facebook.
"This is what black people have to deal with," she added, as the officer continued to ask them questions.
Applebee's did not take Brison's allegations lightly.
Cops freak out after Queens precinct’s official Twitter account uses Black Lives Matter hashtag
"After an internal investigation and in line with our values, the franchisee terminated the manager, server and another employee involved in the incident," the restaurant chain said in a statement Monday night. "We do not tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment of any nature."
The Independence location has also been temporarily shut down, company officials said, so that staff can "regroup, reflect, learn and grow from this."
Brison pointed out the tragic irony in the fact that this incident occurred during Black History Month.
"Just because we are black does not mean we are all criminals and I will not be treated as such," she capped off her post.
read more
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