ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN, Two employees at a Smoothie King location in Ann Arbor were terminated after refusing to serve a customer wearing a hoodie featuring the name of President Donald Trump.
The incident involved Erika Lindemyer and her husband, Jake Lindemyer, who visited the store and were denied service by two employees who said the clothing made them uncomfortable.
Video recorded during the encounter was later shared on social media by Erika Lindemyer and quickly spread online, receiving millions of views.
In the video, Lindemyer can be heard questioning why the couple was being refused service. One employee responded that they did not feel comfortable serving the customer because of the hoodie. Another employee stated that they had the right to refuse service.
The couple argued that political views should not affect whether customers are served at a business.
Smoothie King later issued a statement confirming that the company had investigated the situation. According to the statement, the franchise owner of the Michigan location terminated the two employees involved.
The company said it is committed to maintaining an environment where guests and employees are treated respectfully and without discrimination.
Smoothie King also stated that the franchise owner contacted the customer to apologize and would require additional training for employees at the location regarding guest service standards.
The video of the incident continued circulating widely on social media as discussions about political views and customer service policies unfolded online.
