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Black Chick-fil-A Customer ‘Humiliated’ After Spotting ‘Disgusting’ Name On Ticket Order
A Black Chick-fil-A customer said he felt ‘disgusted’ and ‘humiliated’ after discovering what a worker had allegedly written on his order ticket instead of his actual name.
Marquise Vanzego, from Maryland, claimed he picked up his food order only to find his receipt had been labeled with something shocking rather than his real name.
He has since spoken out about the incident, describing it as an example of racial insensitivity.
A shocking moment at the drive-thru
Vanzego, who shared his experience with Today, said the incident took place at a Chick-fil-A drive-thru on August 23, 2024.
He explained that after waiting for his food, he noticed a Chick-fil-A employee repeatedly calling out a name connected to the order.
At first, Vanzego assumed the name couldn’t possibly be referring to him. But when the employee confirmed the order, chicken strips, fries, and an Arnold Palmer drink, along with mentioning a white van, he said he immediately felt uneasy.
He compared the feeling to the heartbreak or disappointment that follows a breakup, saying: “Your heart has that little sting in it.”
Social media reactions divide opinion
Vanzego said the experience reminded him of the many racially insensitive incidents he had previously seen reported in the news.
According to Vanzego, he immediately asked for clarification and spoke with the manager on duty, who apologized and refunded his meal.
He later spoke with another store manager who had not been present during the incident and reportedly declined to comment publicly.
In the days that followed, Vanzego took to social media, including Facebook, where he posted videos discussing the situation as well as a letter he had sent to Chick-fil-A corporate.
Online reactions were mixed. While many people offered support and sympathy, others questioned whether the incident may have been caused by a misunderstanding or an intercom issue.
However, Vanzego said he placed his order face-to-face with a young male employee rather than over an intercom, leaving him unconvinced that technology was responsible.
Questions over accountability
The customer later spoke with the franchise owner of the restaurant, who apologized but reportedly explained that the employee involved, said to be under 18 years old, would not be fired.
According to Vanzego, the franchise owner told him the employee had simply written down what he believed he heard.
Vanzego believes the response lacked accountability and could send the message that this kind of behavior is acceptable.
“I understand, he’s a young man, he’s 17, he’s still learning,” Vanzego said. “But he also needs to know that there are consequences when you do things like that.”
He added: “When my kids did things, they had to deal with the consequences.”
The receipt label that sparked outrage
Chick-fil-A’s corporate office, which does not directly operate the independently owned franchise, later released a general statement.
It read: “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 label that appeared on Vanzego’s receipt, it reportedly read ‘Monkeys,’ a term that has historically been used as a racial slur against Black people.
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