Ooops Nasty

Delaware restaurant Padi faces criticism after posting racial slurs about customers online
By Shereen Dindar | Shine On Thu, 25 Apr, 2013 12:38 PM EDT
Manager Aaron Kwan says he wasn't behind the offensive posts. (Delaware Online)Padi restaurant in Hockessin, Del. has come under fire for posting pictures of three customers and their receipts, showing little or no tips, on their Instagram account.

The offensive postings, which included insulting and racist hashtags, appeared on restaurant manager Aaron Kwan's Instagram account using the screen name fumanchu85 and the restaurant's Facebook page, reports DelawareOnline.com.  

Since news of the story broke in mid-April, the social media accounts have seemingly been removed, but were said to include hashtags such as #deuchbag #cheap #jew #indian #hillbillies.An example from the Instagram account includes a photo of a $53.80 bill with a $5.20 tip from a customer with an Indian surname.  Fumanchu85 wrote: "What do you expect from a last name like that?" along with several racist hashtags.

This offensive post was posted on Aaron Kwan's Instagram account.Another example includes a photo of a bill from a customer showing that the patron apparently left no tip on a $42.55 bill.

Fumanchu85 wrote: "#cheapass ... #jews #disrespect #jerk ... #hillbillies #cheap Didn’t tip a single dollar."Also see: Conflict Kitchen restaurant only serves food from countries the U.S. is at odds with.

Kwan denies that he made the offending posts, which span over a four month period, and suggests the perhaps one of six other employees who also have access to those social media accounts, made the posts.After being questioned by a DelawareOnline.com reporter, Kwan said he couldn't remember if he posted the offensive material."Um, I don’t recall that. I have to look through that. I mean, I have the right to take all of this down. It’s not me, probably."

Kwan is the nephew of restaurant owner, Eve Teoh, who claims she believes it was not him who posted the offensive material. Yet she has put Kwan on an unpaid leave for an indefinite period of time.“We sincerely apologize for those actions, and want the community to know that those actions and opinions are not consistent with our beliefs and values, nor are they welcome at our restaurant," Teoh says in an open letter for customers.

"Those responsible for insulting our customers and members of the community will be held accountable, and that we are taking steps to insure that this type of behavior never happens again," the letter continues.

Also see: Restaurant slams customers that don't show up on Twitter

This isn't the first time a restaurant has come under fire for attacking customers through social media.A top L.A. restaurant recently slammed customers for not showing up for dinner reservations on the company Twitter account. The tweets were posted by the owner of the acclaimed Beverly Hills restaurant Red Medicine.And customers are not immune to making bad judgement calls involving social media either.

Back in 2011, a patron was kicked out of Down House restaurant in Houston for posting a derogatory tweet about one of the staff members while she was there. The owner saw the tweet from home and called the restaurant to ask her to leave.