E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
NBC New York
A worker at a Hooters in Queens, N.Y., resigned after identifying a Korean-American man and his girlfriend with a racial slur.
A Korean-American man is suing a Hooters restaurant in Queens after a worker there identified him and his girlfriend on a receipt using a slur referring to Asians, they allege.
Kisuk Cha, 25, and his girlfriend, both Korean immigrants, placed a to-go order at Hooters in Fresh Meadows, Queens on July 10, according to their lawyer Daniel D. Baek.
This story originally appeared on NBCNewYork.com.
After placing their order, the couple noticed their hostess and another worker standing at the computer giggling and "gawking at them," according to the lawsuit.
When their hostess handed them their receipt, it had the word "Chinx" printed in the space reserved for the customer's name.
"Here we are in Fresh Meadows, and we have large populations of Asian Americans — Korean Americans, Chinese Americans, Indian Americans, you name it," said Baek. "It's happening right here in Fresh Meadows. I'm shocked."
Cha told the New York Times he was so distraught that he lost his appetite and, when he got home, threw the food away.
The unemployed information technology specialist emigrated from Korea in 2000 and lives in Philadelphia, according to the Times.
More from NBCNewYork.com:
Cop accused of having online sex chats with 15-year-old girl
Long Island woman drives SUV into backyard pool
Two Bentleys stolen from New Jersey car dealership
Nicole Conboy, director of human resources for the holding company that owns the Fresh Meadows restaurant and three Hooters on Long Island, said the 17-year-old hostess admitted to the act and immediately resigned, the Times reports.
The company's lawyer wrote in a letter to Baek, "It does not reflect the manner in which the restaurant is operated," and said the worker's conduct was "deplorable" and "egregious."
Earlier this year, the Papa John's company had to apologize after a worker in a Manhattan restaurant printed "lady chinky eyes" on a receipt for an Asian-American customer. The worker was dismissed.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- That Southern Calif. smell? 'Solid evidence' it came from Salton Sea
- Storms flood parts of Vegas, Navajo land, Calif. desert communities, Utah town
- Drew Peterson fires one of his defense attorneys
- Chicago teachers union: Don't hold breath for deal
- Six percent of pursuit suspects escape California police
- Evidence shows White House got many pre-9/11 warnings
Leave a Comment:
Cappy,
I disagree that it is hate. It is a statement of what has happened before. Certain races who get insulted make a bigger deal of it than others. Jesse Jackson would probably even have weighed in had it been someone African American. Anyone can make nasty remarks about any race, but those on the receiving ends take different courses of protest than others.
Asian-Americans, Indian Americans, African Americans...and yet, we Caucasians are referred to as just white. Gee, all these fancy names so as not to offend. Shouldn't we be European-Americans then? Yeah! Double standard, pc b.s.
I kinda like milk toast.
Looks like the buffalo shrimp will be going up a few bucks (Oops -- I hope the word "shrimp" doesn't offend anyone).
I hate how people think that disliking something warrants saying they are offended. This instance doesnt fit that altered definition of "offended" that liberals have created, they have a legitimate gripe...against the server, not the establishment.
Go cry yourself to sleep knowing that hooters did the right thing, suing them just makes you either a scumbag or an idiot.
They were not chinx they were gooks. Lets get things right.
We need to tie this to Obama somehow and anyone that doesn't vote for him is a racist. Besides, in America, there is no constitutional right to not be offended. There is no constitutional right that guarantees protection from "racial slurs." Good luck with that lawsuit.
In America we have something called Freedom of speech, some people abuse it, others extort it, but bottom line is if we have to watch everything we stay or do then we are no better off than communist countries. The Judge in the case should disbarr the attorney who filed the case.
we have Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Consequences.
What do they want, a million dollars. ROTFLMFAO!! And they paid a lawyer for this. It's going to end up costing them more in legal fees. They look more stupid than the waitress who did it. Just complain to the managment and get on with your life. The nitwit waitress quit, problem solved!
Resigned???
What position is a 17 year old working at HOOTERS in where she has to "Resign"??
QUIT would be better word for it...........
Anyone wonder why Hooters had a 17 y/o "hostess"?
This is what happens when you hire ignorant people. The company is going to lose a sh*t ton of money over this and rightly so.
This was obviously a hate crime. Death sentence for the hostess/server.
Yes, a "hate" crime!! Let's wear that word out too now that society has worn out the word "racist".
"Death sentence for the hostess/server." LOL!
doctor jim59, you're a MORON to think that the company has any culpability. She quit or else she probably would have been fired. Any competent judge will view this as a settled dispute and not award anything. The chinese couple may have been insulted, however they suffered no damages.
Think again. The Hostess was effectively an agent for the company and by her actions as that said agent she can cause the company to be liable. Basic- businsess-law. A company is liable for the actions of it's EMPLOYEES. By your simplistic theory an airline wopuldn't be liable if a pilot "had a bad day" and deliberately crashed the plane. Would people file suit against the pilot's estate? No, of course not. using a deliberately racists slur on a receipt is far beyond a "reasonable" mistake. That being said, the Judge SHOULD limit the amount awarded. This isn't something life altering by any stretch
Uh, AmericanDad? Doctor Jim was being sacastic. For you to miss that and angrily jump on his comments makes you look more like a MORON, (all caps just as you used.) Go get a beer and relax, OK?
The real crime here is that someone went to Hooters for food. Their food is poopoo.
LMAO, and for take out! WTH!!
Welcome to S H I T T Y W O K!!!
Calling someone a "chink" or "mick" or "dago" or "spick" just makes you an a$$hole, but being an a$$hole isn't against the law. Were they denied service ? Will they patronize the place ever again ? Will they tell their friends not to go their because of how they were treated, therefore the business will lose money ?
Seems the suing part was their attorney's idea, which makes him the bigger A$$HOLE in this situation !
This happened in Queens? Not surprised. Have you been to Howard Beach? Queens is home to some of the nastiest racists in New York and most of them are related to police officers. They (Italian and Irish Americans in that area) seem to forget what Americans used to call their great grandparents when they first got off their boats.
What I want to know is who goes to Hooters for TAKE OUT?? Seems to defeat the whole purpose, lol
Maybe they preferred g00k to ch!nk......
Lol, that is funny, should of put egg roll! Special number 44
I speak for "Crackers" everywhere and frankly, we are appalled.
LOL.....
what? there's an imbecile employed by Hooters!?
Whelp to be honest, a 17 yr old's bewbies are a tad more perkier than, say a 27 yr old's....
It does not give a "Reason" for the Lawsuit.....What is the Basis of the Lawsuit???
This will be thrown out as frivilous.....plain and simple. IF it makes to a courtroom that is.....
As said many times here already......this Lawyer IS looking for an out of court settlement.
Why not be fair.....the Guy is out of work....Hooters should offer him a job.
What crybabies. What are the damages of being called chinx or gooks or honky? Always looking to get their feelings hurt, and pocket a dime or two in the process. Fill out a hurt feelings report and move on.
Hey, a chink is a chink, whats the big deal???
You people are all focusing on the wrong issue, here! Yes, it is racist and that can be hurtful. and we should all hold back our freedom of speech if it offends other people, and because everybody in this country is responsible for everyone else's feelings over their own. BUT, that is not the issue. This man ordered food from Hooter's TO GO!!!! Who the heck goes to Hooters for the food????