Case Settled Against Steakhouse That Called One of Its Regulars 'McStinkyNigger' on His Receipt

Steak via Shutterstock

Mark McHenry thought that he was developing a rapport with the staff at Landmark Steakhouse where he was a regular customer. That is until he looked through his receipts that identified him as "McStinkyNigger," "McNigShit" and "McCottonwood."

McHenry sued them this spring for discriminating on the basis of his race and has settled for an undisclosed amount, according to the OC Weekly.

Before he noticed the receipts, McHenry used to enjoy going to the steakhouse in Corona del Mar. Sure, sometimes the wait staff would make jokes about him being probably one of the few black guys in the joint: they'd say “black is the new white” or tell him that he was "getting served before the white people,” according to the Orange County Register. And sometimes he'd notice the wait staff gathered around the register, looking at him and laughing. It didn't occur to him that he had been the butt of their joking until he noticed the receipts.

“As a result of these racist acts, plaintiff has lost his trust in the community. He feels … ridiculed, isolated, angry and embarrassed,” the suit against Landmark said.

One bartender at the restaurant was fired as a result of the receipts, according to the Weekly. The bartender begged McHenry for forgiveness in a text: “I will do whatever you ask of me. I know I made a big mistake by crossing the line. I have a family & mortgage that depend on me. I know ur furious."

Lately, fast food restaurant workers have been getting in trouble for the racist slurs they're using to label their customers on receipts. A Chik-fil-A worker in Orange County got fired for labeling two Asian customers "ching" and "chong." A Papa John's worker got fired for calling an Asian customer "lady chinky eyes."

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By Emma G. Gallegos in Food on February 15, 2012 11:30 AM

Comments [rss]

Maria Muse

All good points. Well, mostly. I don't think the poor restaurant owner should have to close, however, he does need to choose more sophisticated staff. I feel terrible for the gentleman, how awful!

diggityOC

On a separate note, it drives me nuts that society is so litigious that someone can receive probably a ridiculous amount of money for being "angry and embararssed". Just don't patronize the business and tell all your friends. How can you quantify hurt feelings?

KaliKross

There's always someone who shows up to diminish the effects of racism. ^^Someone just showed up to the party. *sigh*

JoanDarque

Boycott this restaurant, make it close.

Scavenger333

Holy crap is that a heartbreaking story. That poor man. This makes me furious. I hope that bartender does default on hIs mortgage and has to explain to his kids what a racist douche their daddy is.

KaliKross

Wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunately, people this stupid usually don't get it. Instead, they blame others for their problems. He'll just say that a black man made him lose his job, & that will cultivate his children's racism.

J

It's not even about race, but about common sense and just basic human decency, which sadly, many lack. Mongrels. Some are worst than animals.

bleave

The bartender sort of proves the general "racist = kinda stupid" thing. What an incredibly stupid way to lose a job.

He probably thought it was funny. Well...now it is

Ed Yerke-Robins

Dearest ex-bartender, if you "have a family & mortgage that depend on [you]", then you have a responsibility to conduct yourself professionally in the work place. That way you don't have to use them as an emotional football when it comes back to you.

The best part is that guy STILL doesn't get it. According
to the OC Register article, another apology text claimed "they were only
joking around, 'like good bruthas do.'" Ai yi yi!

Paul

oh good lord, seriously - "like good bruthas" ???

exbaytriate

note to bartender: when begging forgiveness, spell out the entire damn word.

Paul

Well, now that he's out of a job, maybe he didn't want to go over his text usage.

brainylagirl

we're at least 500 years away from a "post-racial" America.

E.

if i hear Post Racial ANYTHING, i might just kill some people.

E.

Everyone knows Newport Beach, Irvine, The Whole OC and most of West San Fernando valley is where all the racist douchebags moved in the 60s/70s/80s to cultivate their hate. Doesnt surprise me that this would happen out there.

PicoPhreako69

Exactly.
Glad I no longer live in the OC....

E.

Nice to visit, high numbers of republicans and tea partiers; wouldnt wanna live there.

crusher153

what about just plain americans? would they fit? would americans fit in your community?

The Ugly American

My ...that's quite a broad-brush you have there.

E.

the same brush they used to paint up that Stinky McNigger image of a dude just trying to get a decent steak. Im sure.

crusher153

why don't i use the same brush to paint every inner city minority i come into contact with. they are the real racist fucks out there.

now i'm not dumb enough to actually think that every minority is racist. some are racist (just like some white people). but thats how stupid you sound. the real word you should be using is prejudice. every single solitary person on this planet is prejudice. to what extent is an individual basis.

prejudging someone, something, or a situation is a survival mechanism. now i'm not saying its right but if someone thought that all irishmen were drunks then i'd tell you "you must know a few irishmen!". am i gonna get offended? absolutely not! i rarely drink and it really doesn't fit who i am. but there are enough drunken irish out there to make a stereotype. i can go on about every race religion, sex etc.. you will find truths in stereotypes aka prejudices.

i wasn't around to smell this particular person. but i've been around enough black people to know that personal hygene isn't on the top of alot their personal lists. just saying.

E.

Because clearly, you already do that stupid, racist shit. thanks for proving that for us.

Landmark Steakhouse is probably your favorite place to eat, huh? LoL.

crusher153

never been there and most likely wont ever be. but you really don't understand what i'm trying to say. i don't pussyfoot around things, nor do i get offended when people say something about me. i'm old enough not to give a fuck and i'm not lookin for a payday.

am i saying writing the stupid shit they wrote on the reciepts as smart? absolutely not! i think its pretty moronic! you also have to look at the people who did it. last i checked, you don't need a phd to cook a steak or put it on someones plate. these people are most likely pretty fuckin stupid and that job was probably the only way they could make a decent wage. after all, the guy was pleading for the black man not to push the issue, so that he could keep his job as a cashier in a restaurant. don't know about you but it seems to me that this guy did not have many employment options.

and once again its not racism, its prejudice. just like you are prejudging me, i'm prejudging you and everyone else in this story.

E.

why are you typing like someone is actually gonna read all your thinly veiled racist shit? go sit in the corner and think about how stupid you look right now.

crusher153

RACISM is hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. i do not hate anyone because of the color of their skin, religion, sexual orientation, sex, or any other thing that might set them apart from me. the only thing i do is write openly on many subjects that might cause alarm from ignorant people like yourself. therefore you have to "label" me because i don't fit into your ideals. it also appears that someone with an actual mind and opinion scares you! therefore i'm prejudging you to be a liberal.