A worker at a Cinnabon outlet in the United States has been dismissed from her job after a video of her racist tirade against two customers spread rapidly online. The incident, which highlights disturbing prejudice, occurred in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, a suburb of Green Bay.
Viral Video Captures Disturbing Confrontation
The controversy erupted when a TikTok user posted a video of an encounter at the mall-based cinnamon roll shop. The footage shows a white female employee behind the counter engaging in a heated argument with the customers. The situation escalated when the worker uttered a racial slur and declared, "I am racist and I'll say it to the whole entire world. Don't be disrespectful."
According to the customer who recorded the video, the incident took place on Friday while she and her husband were on a shopping break. She stated that she had ordered a caramel pecan cinnamon roll and requested extra caramel. The confrontation began after the employee snapped at her and made derogatory comments about her hijab, prompting the customer to start recording.
In the video, the employee is also seen making an obscene hand gesture and exchanging expletives with the couple.
Company's Swift Response and Community Reaction
Cinnabon, the Georgia-based chain, acted quickly following the viral spread of the video. The company posted a statement on social media confirming that the franchise owner had "immediately terminated" the worker involved.
In a follow-up statement to The Associated Press on Sunday, the company emphasized, "Their actions and statements are completely unacceptable and in no way reflect the values of Cinnabon, our franchisees, or the welcoming environment we expect for every guest and team member." The employee was not publicly identified by the company.
An online fundraising campaign was launched to support the affected customers, described as a "black Somali Muslim couple" who were left traumatised by the event. In a contrasting development, a separate crowdfunding campaign purportedly created to benefit the fired employee has raised tens of thousands of dollars. This effort appears on the same Christian platform that previously gathered significant funds for a Minnesota woman who admitted to using a racist slur against a Black child.
Broader Implications and Takeaways
This incident underscores the persistent issues of racism and religious intolerance that can surface in everyday interactions. The rapid corporate response from Cinnabon demonstrates the pressure businesses face to address such public relations crises in the age of social media, where videos can gain global traction in hours.
The divergent public response, seen in the competing fundraising campaigns, also highlights the deep societal divisions surrounding such incidents. While the company has taken decisive action, the event serves as a stark reminder of the work needed to foster truly inclusive environments in public spaces and the service industry worldwide.
