A woman in Ohio has been fired after writing a shocking message on a restaurant bill for the server instead of leaving a tip.
The incident took place at Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Columbus, where a diner, identified as Stephanie Lovins, wrote “I hope Trump deports you!!!” on the signature line of her receipt.
Rather than leaving a tip on her $87.84 bill, she added, “Zero, you suck,” followed by the offensive remark.
An employee at the restaurant later posted a picture of the receipt on Facebook, where it quickly went viral.
In the bottom corner of the bill, Lovins’ name was visible, prompting internet sleuths to dig into her background. It was soon discovered that she had worked for Century 21, a leading real estate company, for 27 years.
As backlash mounted, Lovins attempted to defend herself on a local Facebook page, claiming her “credit card was lost/stolen and someone attempted to use it,” per the New York Post.
She insisted that she had been bombarded with messages since the receipt surfaced but was focused on reporting the issue to her bank.
However, Fabio Oribio, the restaurant’s marketing manager, reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed to The Columbus Dispatch that it was indeed Lovins who wrote the note.
Century 21 swiftly responded to the controversy, releasing a statement condemning the incident and confirming Lovins had been let go.
“We are aware of the situation with the agent in question. Hate has no place within the Century 21 brand, and we are taking this very seriously,” the company said.
“After investigating the situation and connecting with the respective broker, as all companies affiliated with the Century 21 brand are independently owned and operated, we can confirm that this agent is no longer affiliated with the brand,” they added.
Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant also took to social media to stand in solidarity with their staff, posting: “We believe in the power of respect, tolerance, and acceptance. Recently, one of our team members faced an unacceptable situation, and we stand firmly against any form of hate or discrimination.”
The server targeted by Lovins, Ricardo, was later identified as a U.S. citizen working two jobs. The restaurant noted that while the dining area had been busy that Sunday, they had no idea what could have prompted the hateful message.
Following the incident, a GoFundMe was created to give Ricardo the tip he deserved. The campaign has since raised over $21,000.
The controversy comes amid rising tensions over immigration in the US, with President Donald Trump recently vowing to carry out “mass deportations” of undocumented immigrants.
Incidents like Lovins’ firing have become increasingly common, with social media users dubbing them “FAFO” (F*** Around and Find Out).**
Similar cases have made headlines in recent weeks. According to Whyy, a public official was forced to resign after making a hand gesture resembling a Nazi salute at an event,
