Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

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

steak.jpg
Steak via Shutterstock

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

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."

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today