Burger King reacts to viral video of drive-thru employee wearing blackface on Halloween
· Toronto Sun
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A Burger King employee working the drive-thru window on Halloween while in blackface was called out in a video that has since gone viral.
Shavelle Devine, who goes by Chevy on social media, shared the clip on Facebook of the white employee in blackface while wearing her standard Burger King uniform, not a costume.
‘Wanted to be Black’
“I just asked this lady what she was today,” Devine said in her video. “Can you tell them what you told me?”
The worker replied: “I’m just Black today.”
Devine asked the girl if she thought that was OK, to which the employee responded, “As long as you have a good heart,” and nodded when she was asked if she had good “intentions.”
The customer also asked if the employee supports the Black Lives Matter movement.
“Well, no, I just wanted to be Black,” the employee replied.
Several online reports claim that the incident took place at a Burger King restaurant in Fairbault, Minn., though the fast-food giant did not confirm the location.
Burger King speaks out
“We are aware of the video and take the matter very seriously,” Burger King said in a statement.
“The Franchisee of this location is addressing the situation with his team, manager, and Team Member to ensure everyone involved understands why this is not acceptable and won’t happen again.”
Devine was disappointed in Burger King’s response, telling People in her own statement that she felt “disappointment, frustration, and concern” about the incident.
“I find this behaviour completely unacceptable, offensive, and disrespectful,” she said in part, noting that blackface should not be considered “a Halloween costume, a joke, or a harmless form of entertainment.”
Devine continued: “It carries a deeply painful history rooted in racism, humiliation, discrimination, and the dehumanization of African Americans.”
She believes the restaurant chain’s response “sends a troubling message that racial insensitivity is something to laugh about rather than something that deserves immediate attention and accountability.”
She added: “As a major national business, Burger King has a responsibility to create an environment where customers and employees of every racial background feel respected, valued, and safe. This is about respect, accountability, and understanding that actions rooted in a painful history of racism have real consequences.”