COLUMBUS, OH — An Ohio woman lost her job when a racist message she wrote on a restaurant bill went viral. The incident occurred at Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Columbus, where a customer left an offensive note instead of tipping.
The receipt indicated a $87.84 charge, but instead of adding gratuity, the customer wrote, “Zero, you suck,” followed by, “I hope Trump deports you!!!” Stephanie Lovins’ name appeared in the corner of the receipt.
A restaurant employee later shared a photo of it on Facebook, which garnered widespread attention.
Century 21 Fires Longtime Realtor
The post quickly went viral, prompting scrutiny of Lovins’ background.
A restaurant employee discovered she had spent 27 years as a realtor at Century 21, the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization. Following the backlash, Lovins was fired from her job.
Fabio Oribio, the restaurant’s marketing manager, reviewed security footage and confirmed that Lovins did indeed write the message.
Lovins Denies Responsibility
After the controversy gained traction online, Lovins addressed it on a local Facebook page. She claimed that her credit card had been lost or stolen, and that someone else had used it. She also suggested that the incident could have been caused by scammers or hackers.
Lovins said she had been inundated with messages since the story went viral and was focusing on reporting the problem to her bank.
She thanked her “supporters” for their patience while she handled the situation.
A Moment for Reflection
The individuals affected by this incident, including the restaurant staff who faced hateful words, deserve recognition for their resilience in the face of cruelty.
Moments like this remind us that communities have the power to stand together against discrimination and support those who are wronged. While hatred exists, so does the ability to foster kindness, accountability, and change—each of us can choose to be part of that better future.
