Cinnabon Worker Fired After Viral Video Shows Her Calling Somali Customers Racial Slurs
A widely circulated viral video has ignited a firestorm of online criticism directed at the bakery chain Cinnabon, following a shocking racist outburst by an employee at one of its Wisconsin locations. The incident, captured on a TikTok video that quickly went viral, has prompted outrage across social media platforms.
The incident began when a customer, described in an online fundraiser as a Black Somali Muslim woman, and her husband were at a Cinnabon in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. The customer had asked the employee for more caramel on her order.
According to the customer who began recording the interaction on TikTok, the employee “snapped at her” and made a derogatory comment about her hijab before the recording started.
Calling herself “a racist” and stating, “I am racist, and I’ll say it to the whole entire world”.
Uttering a racial slur (the N-word) at the customers.
Giving an obscene hand gesture (flipping off the customers).
Exchanging expletives (cussing out) the customers.
Reportedly shouting comments such as “Send these monkeys back to Somalia!”.
Mocking the customer’s hijab, allegedly saying, “You could see me squeezing it through that witchcraft bandana you’re wearing on the top of your head”.
During the exchange, a customer is heard telling the employee, “You’re ruining your life, by the way,” while another person present stated, “You are fired from this place, motherf***er”.
The clip’s rapid dissemination across the internet led to immediate and intense online fury. Social media users expressed profound shock and anger, demanding swift and decisive action from Cinnabon’s corporate management. Many called for a boycott of the brand, while others praised the customers for filming the interaction and bringing it to public attention.
In response to the mounting pressure, Cinnabon, in conjunction with the local franchise owner, issued an official statement addressing the incident. The company announced that the employee involved had been “immediately terminated” following an investigation into the matter.
“The actions and comments made by the employee in the video are completely unacceptable,” the brand’s statement read. It further emphasised that the employee’s behaviour “does not reflect the values of the Cinnabon brand or the welcoming environment we strive to provide for all of our guests and team members.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly employee misconduct can escalate into a full-blown brand crisis in the age of social media, underscoring the critical need for prompt and transparent corporate responses to such issues.
