A Virginia woman's quick trip to Wingstop for dinner with her grandson has turned into a controversy that is drawing national attention after she discovered a racial slur printed on her order and displayed publicly inside the restaurant. The incident led to the termination of a Wingstop employee and prompted the company to announce additional sensitivity training for staff at the location.
According to FOX 5 D.C., Nita Sutherland visited a Wingstop restaurant in Lorton, Virginia, on June 13 to pick up food for her 7-year-old grandson. Sutherland said she clearly provided her first name while placing the order, even spelling it out for employees. But when her food was prepared, she said a racial slur appeared where her name should have been on the order labels attached to her bags. The same term was also displayed on the restaurant's order-tracking screen, visible to customers inside the store.
Wingstop has spent years building a strong presence in music, sports, and popular culture. The chicken chain has partnered with artists including Latto, who launched a limited-time meal collaboration with the company, while Rick Ross has become one of the brand's most recognizable ambassadors through his ownership of a franchise and frequent references to the restaurant in music and media.
More recently, artists such as Soulja Boy and BigXthaPlug have also appeared in promotional campaigns tied to the brand.
Sutherland said she immediately sought out management after seeing the slur. "I was upset; I was pissed off," she told FOX 5 D.C.
She said she asked for a manager and expected the offensive language to be removed from the screen. Instead, she claimed the manager told her the employee "didn't mean anything by it,” and the employee then returned to work without apologizing.
When asked how the situation affected her, Sutherland responded bluntly: "It's awful."
Wingstop's corporate office moved swiftly after learning about the incident. In a statement, the company said discrimination and hateful behavior have no place within the brand. The franchise operator conducted an investigation and terminated the employee responsible. The company also confirmed that workers at the Lorton location will undergo sensitivity training.
While Sutherland said she was glad the employee was fired, she argued the response inside the restaurant should have been more serious from the start.
