Olive Garden employee, 16, to file lawsuit after customer requested white server, reports say

Michael Doyle, Evansville Courier & Press,USA TODAY•March 9, 2020

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – An Olive Garden employee who made headlines last week when a customer singled her out in an incident of racial discrimination has decided to sue the restaurant.

According to a Facebook post Saturday from Indiana law firm Danks and Danks, Amira Donahue, 16, decided to quit her position at the restaurant because of what she said has become a hostile work environment.

"After Amira spoke up about being discriminated against by an Olive Garden customer, she has been harassed by and retaliated against by her coworkers and superiors," the post reads. "Amira told her superiors about the harassment and retaliation by her coworkers, and Olive Garden failed to stop it from continuing.

"Amira did her best to overcome the adversity at Olive Garden, but her environment had become intolerable. The final straw happened yesterday evening when Amira overheard a coworker say, 'black people will do anything for money' and 'I don’t like her,’" the Facebook post continues.

Previously: Olive Garden customer reportedly refused service from a black server and the manager complied

As first reported by the USA TODAY Network's Evansville Courier & Press on March 2, Donahue was working her shift as a host at Olive Garden in Evansville on Feb. 29 when a customer requested a white server instead of the server already assigned to the table. Both Donahue and the server are black.

The manager of the restaurant granted the customer's request. That manager was later “separated” from the company, according to Olive Garden corporate management.

"We have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, and the manager involved no longer works for our company," an emailed statement from the company said.

Customers at the restaurant corroborated Donahue's account of what happened the next day.

"A few white people come in (and) says that they refuse service from a 'colored' server and asks to speak with the manager," wrote Maxwell Robbins, who told the Courier & Press he went to dinner at the restaurant. "The manager without hesitation ensures that they will not receive service from a person of color."

Danks and Danks issued a statement saying the firm was "proud to join Amira in this fight."

Attorney Brandon Danks told local news outlet WEVV that the firm is "anticipating litigation" and expects to "eventually file something."

"We stand with Amira and fully support her decision," the firm's Facebook post concluded. "She has been strong in facing adversity and brave for exposing it.

"We will continue the fight for Amira and hold Olive Garden responsible for its treatment of employees."

As part of an outpouring of support on social media, Paparazzi Glamour & Gowns, an Evansville formal wear store, said Donahue's prom gown, which she purchased on a payment plan, would be free.

The store went a step further, also offering her a new job.

"Your prom dress is here waiting for you – as is a sales associate position with a management team and co-workers who support you in your fundamental right to be amazing, if you ever choose to take us up on it!" a post on the store's Facebook page reads.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Olive Garden employee Donahue to sue after racist incident: reports