Ohio Woman Fired After Writing ‘Racist’ Remark on Restaurant Bill

The message was left at Cazuelas Mexican Cantina on East Broad Street, Columbus , on Sunday to a server known only as Ricardo

A woman has been fired from her job after leaving a racist comment on a restaurant bill at Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Columbus, Ohio.

The customer, identified as Stephanie Lovins, wrote “I hope Trump deports you!!!” on the signature line of the bill after dining at the establishment. The remark was directed at her server, who works at the restaurant part-time while holding a second job.

The server discovered Lovins’ identity after noticing her name on the bill and conducting an online search. It was revealed that she had been a realtor for 27 years with Century 21, the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization.

Following public backlash, Lovins attempted to defend herself on a local Facebook page, claiming that her credit card had been lost or stolen and that someone else had used it. However, restaurant marketing head Fabio Oribo suggested that the comment stemmed from a disagreement over a coupon.

“It’s just not right, just not right,” Oribo told NBC4. “He’s a really good person, and like I said, we all come here every day to do our job, which is to serve people and have a good time.”

In the corner of the bill was the customer’s name, Stephanie Lovins, a Century 21 realtor.

Cazuelas Mexican Cantina publicly backed their employee, releasing a statement condemning hate and discrimination.

“At Cazuelas Mexican Cantina, we believe in the power of respect, tolerance, and acceptance. Recently, one of our team members faced an unacceptable situation, and we stand firmly against any form of hate or discrimination,” the statement read. “Together, we will continue to create a welcoming space for everyone.”

Century 21 confirmed that Lovins was no longer affiliated with the company, stating:

“After investigating the situation and connecting with the respective broker, as all companies affiliated with the CENTURY 21 brand are independently owned and operated, we can confirm that this agent is no longer affiliated with the brand.”

'Zero. You Suck,' a woman wrote in the tip section of her Cazuelas Mexican Cantina bill

In response to the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by a restaurant patron to support the server. The fundraiser had raised over $14,300 by Wednesday afternoon.

“They enjoyed the food. They enjoyed the service. And then, instead of tipping, they decided to show their true colors in the most disgusting way possible,” the fundraiser organizer wrote.

A “Celebrate Ricardo” event has also been planned for Sunday, with more than 30 people expressing interest in attending, according to its event page on Facebook.