Black Chick-fil-A customer said he was ‘disgusted’ and ‘humiliated’ after spotting what a worker had called him on a ticket order.
Marquise Vanzego, from Maryland, U.S., claims he picked up his food order to find his receipt labeled with some shocking, rather than his name.
He’s now brought attention to the incident, which he describes as a case of racial insensitivity.
Vanzego, who shared his story with Today, claims the incident occurred at the fast food chain’s drive-thru on August 23, 2024.
He recounts that after waiting for his order, he was surprised to hear a Chick-fil-A employee repeatedly calling out a name associated with it.
Initially, Vanzego thought the name couldn’t possibly refer to him but when the employee confirmed the order – a meal consisting of chicken strips, fries, and an Arnold Palmer drink – and mentioned a white van, he felt a sinking feeling.
He compared the feeling to the grief or disappointment of a breakup, adding: “Your heart has that little sting in it.”
Vanzego noted that it felt like one of the countless stories he’d seen on the news involving racially insensitive situations.
Vanzego said he sought immediate clarification and spoke with the on-duty manager, who offered an apology and a refund for his order.
Later, he spoke with a store manager who wasn’t present during the incident and declined to publically comment.
In the days following, Vanzego shared his experience on social media platforms, including Facebook. He posted videos and a letter he’d sent to Chick-fil-A corporate about the incident.
Reactions online were mixed – some people expressed sympathy and support, while others questioned the exact cause, suggesting it could have been a miscommunication due to an intercom error.
Yet Vanzego has clarified that he ordered face-to-face with a young male employee, not through an intercom, leaving him doubtful that a technology error was to blame.
The customer later spoke with the store’s franchise owner, who apologized but also explained that he would not be firing the employee involved, reportedly a minor under 18 years old.
According to Vanzego, the store’s franchise owner said the employee simply wrote down what he thought he heard.
The customer believes this lack of accountability may signal to the young employee that such actions are permissible.
“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.”
Chick-fil-A’s corporate office, which does not manage this independently owned franchise, has issued a general statement.
It 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.”
And as for the controversial label printed on his receipt? It read ‘Monkeys,’ which has long been a racial slur against Black people.
