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Fast food chain Chick-fil-A has responded to accusations an employee at their Irvine location used the code names "Ching" and "Chong" to identify Asian customers on their store receipts.
A third customer, a UC Irvine RA who accompanied the two students with the receipts in question, said the employee did not ask the customers for their names, but took it upon herself to put in "Ching" and "Chong."
Now Chick-fil-A is responding to allegations the act was racist and inappropriate. In a statement published on Grub Street Los Angeles, Chick-fil-A admits not only that the incident happened, but that as a result, that employee, identified as "Lia" on the receipts, has been terminated. Here's their statement:
Please understand and accept our confirmation that the inappropriate, and unthinking behavior of a young team member at one of our restaurants does not support any claim or even suggestion of racism at our restaurant. The individual clearly violated our operating standards; the matter was addressed and discussed immediately with the guests on the spot; and a confirmation was provided that the employee was immediately dismissed for the individual behavior. Our Chick-fil-A restaurant Operators and their employees try very hard every day to actually go the extra mile in serving ALL of our customers with honor, dignity and respect. The circumstances here are a simply case of immaturity, failed judgment, and human error….it has nothing to do with the service and operational standards of our Chick-fil-A restaurants which are consistently rated at the highest level of service in the foodservice industry.
