Man addresses disgusting comment on Chick-fil-A receipt.
A quiet Friday night took a devastating turn for Marquise Vanzego when he received a shocking surprise with his Chick-fil-A drive-thru order.
Routine order turns devastating.
On August 23, at around 8:00 p.m., Vanzego, a 52-year-old African American man, visited the La Plata Chick-fil-A in Maryland for a routine meal.
But his simple order turned into a nightmare when he glanced at his receipt and saw a racist slur written in the “guest” section.
Receipt sparks shock.
Vanzego was stunned to find the words “M*nkeys L1 2583” scrawled on the receipt, a blatant racial insult that immediately shattered his peace of mind.
The disturbing message left him feeling “devastated” and pulled him back to the painful reality of racism that he thought had long been buried.
A man who’s experienced the long and tumultuous road of racial injustice, Vanzego was instantly reminded of the painful history shared by millions of African Americans.
Racial incidents in fast food exposed.
Vanzego’s experience is, unfortunately, not an isolated one in a country where racial slurs still find their way into everyday interactions.
Historically, fast food restaurants have not been immune to similar controversies. Cases of employees using racial slurs on receipts have occurred before, sparking outrage and calls for accountability.
In 2018, a Louisiana Popeyes faced backlash after a customer received a receipt with a racial slur written on it. The incident, much like Vanzego’s, ignited widespread anger.
Customer speaks out.
He took to Instagram on August 28 to share his ordeal, posting a photo of the receipt and a video documenting his attempt to confront the Chick-fil-A staff.
The video shows Vanzego calmly but firmly asking to speak to the person responsible for the offensive remark on his receipt.
“Is the guy that wrote ‘m*nkeys’ on my receipt available? I want to talk to him,” Vanzego asks in the footage, his voice steady but filled with the weight of the situation.
Disheartening staff response explained.
The response from the staff was disheartening, as the employee informed him that the culprit wasn’t available but offered the manager’s contact information.
The incident left Vanzego reeling, prompting him to speak out about the lasting impact of the derogatory term that was hurled at him.
Emotional toll revealed.
“It was devastating. It just set me back years,” Vanzego told News4, reflecting on the painful memories the slur dredged up.
Vanzego, like many Black Americans, has lived through a lifetime of racial struggles, and this incident only served to reopen old wounds.
“As a Black male, we’ve gone through a lot, and it’s a constant reminder,” he said, expressing the emotional toll this took on him.
The shock and hurt didn’t stop there. Vanzego penned an open letter to Chick-fil-A’s headquarters, expressing his “outrage and disgust” over the incident.
He made it clear that he had “clearly communicated” his name to the employee, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
“This racist and derogatory labeling is not only deeply offensive but also humiliating,” Vanzego wrote, highlighting the impact of the slur on his dignity as a Black man.
He shared that the incident brought back memories of the dehumanizing racism his ancestors endured, a painful legacy that still haunts many African Americans today.
Confrontation with store owner detailed.
Vanzego’s confrontation with the Chick-fil-A staff wasn’t the end of the story. He reached out to the store owner on August 25, seeking answers.
The owner claimed to have spoken with the 17-year-old employee responsible, who allegedly said he “put down the name he thought he heard.”
Vanzego was shocked to learn that the owner chose to “stand with” the teenager and decided not to fire him, despite the gravity of the offense.
Vanzego criticizes outcome.
“I think it could’ve been handled a lot differently,” Vanzego stated, expressing his belief that the employee should have been terminated on the spot.
He acknowledged the employee’s youth but insisted that age shouldn’t exempt him from facing the consequences of such a harmful act.
“I understand, he’s a young man, he’s 17, he’s still learning, but he also needs to know that there are consequences when you do things like that,” Vanzego said.
Disappointed by the response, Vanzego concluded that he would no longer patronize Chick-fil-A, stating, “I won’t be going back… Racism is still alive.”
As more people become aware of Vanzego’s story, it’s clear that this is more than just a customer service issue—it’s a reflection of the ongoing struggle against racism in America.
The shocking receipt might seem like a small piece of paper, but for Vanzego, it’s a reminder that the fight for equality and respect is far from over.