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On the list of bad looks in 2016, questioning a veteran about his service is probably up there near the top. So when I saw that my boyhood Chili’s was in the news for doing just that, I immediately questioned everything. And then I read the facts about what happened, and it’s soooo much worse.
To acknowledge Veteran’s Day, Chili’s offered free meals for military veterans. Great promo. A free meal at the original business closing spot is the least we can do. When Ernest Walker, a black military veteran, attempted to collect on the offer, he apparently had his service questioned by a guy in a Trump shirt who subsequently informed the manager, who then took action. This is where we’re at now.
Here’s the full post from Ernest’s Facebook:
Alright, where do we begin? Imagine you’re the manager of that Chili’s. There’s a pretty good chance you are aware that this is potentially a bad situation. It has all of the hallmarks of a viral Internet story in which you’re the bad guy: Veteran, camera phone, Trump, racial component, service dog. This isn’t going to end well for you. Even if you think there’s an issue with this guy’s story, or his dog, it’s really not worth it. It’s one free meal. You have to run a cost-benefit analysis of the situation. Facts. And when the guy shows you his military credentials, just apologize, offer to comp his meal and call it a day.
Oh, and it turns out he wasn’t lying. Walker served in the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division from 1987-1991:
So this is naturally turned into a shit storm. Chili’s has issued this response:
Our goal is to make every guest feel special. Unfortunately, we fell short on a day that we strive to honor our Veterans and active military for their service. We have escalated this to the highest levels of our company.
Bad deal all around. Fun fact that I alluded to earlier, I grew up going to this Chili’s. I cut my teeth on chicken crispers there, and all jokes aside, it’s weird covering a story that makes you lose faith in humanity when it occurs in your backyard. Hopefully, Chili’s makes this right and Ernest Walker never has to pay for another meal at Chili’s again..
[via Fort Worth Star Telegram]
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Dave
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Enron: Prime example of not taking your job seriously.
Chilli’s Guy: Prime example of taking your job far too seriously.
I bet this wouldn’t have happened at Hooters.
I don’t think a man managing a Chili’s knows what a cost-benefit analysis is.
“an elderly white man wearing a Donald Trump shirt approached him and “he said he was in Germany, and that they did not let Blacks serve over there.”
Does this person know there have been other wars
That guy woke up that morning and thought “Being the manager of a chili’s is as low as I can go.” And then…
I don’t know, from my experience restaurant managers always seem to be 45 year old white guys who are way too proud of themselves.
“How’s your food? Oh, not good? Let me go back into the kitchen and tell those peons to make you a new one. My managerial pleasure.”
I believe Mr. Walker now has the legal right to kick that manager squarely in the dick.
If this guy doesn’t get free Chillis for life we have failed as a nation
Even though it’d be well deserved, If I were in that situation I doubt I’d step foot in a Chili’s again.
Idk man drinking a couple thousand dollars worth of margs every year on their dime might ease the pain
Yikes.
Don’t mess with a dude bamed Black Batman