A 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, speaking with Today, recounted an unsettling experience at a Chick-fil-A drive-thru on August 23, 2024.
After waiting for his order, he was puzzled when an employee repeatedly called out a name linked to it. At first, he assumed it couldn’t be referring to him. But when the worker confirmed the order—chicken strips, fries, and an Arnold Palmer—along with a reference to a white van, an uneasy realization set in.
Describing the moment, Vanzego likened it to the sting of a breakup, saying, “Your heart has that little sting in it.” He reflected that the experience felt like yet another instance of racially insensitive incidents often reported in the news.
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.
Vanzego said the franchise owner explained that the employee simply wrote down what he thought he heard.
However, Vanzego believes the lack of accountability could send the wrong message to the young worker, implying such actions are 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 for things like this.”
He added, “When my kids did things, they had to face the consequences.”
Chick-fil-A’s corporate office, which does not directly manage this independently owned franchise, issued a general statement:
“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 offensive label on his receipt? It read ‘Monkeys’—a term long used as a racial slur against Black people.
