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===Racial slurs on customers receipts (''2018'')===
===Racial slurs on customers receipts (''2018'')===
On 11 April, a 19 year old women Maya Thomas went to IHOP to purchase a to go order containing Colorado, Big Steak, and eggs, however upon exiting the restaurant, she discovered a black employee added an discriminatory word.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Tanasia |date=3 May 2018 |title=IHOP Offers Customer $10 Gift Card as Apology After Waitress Writes Racial Slur on Receipt |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2018/05/03/ihop-customer-receives-10-gift-card-apology-waitress-writes-racial-slur-receipt/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Atlanta Black Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Callahan |first=Yesha |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP Customer Called the N-Word on Receipt Receives $10 Gift Card as Apology |url=https://www.theroot.com/ihop-customer-called-the-n-word-on-receipt-receives-10-gift-card-as-apology |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=The Root}}</ref> Two days later, Maya contacted IHOP, however they received a 10 IHOP gift certificate via mail days later, resulting in the mother posting the incident on social media and commenting on the situation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP Customer Had N-Word Printed on Receipt, Got $10 Gift Certificate |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5688669/Missouri-IHOP-fires-black-server-printed-inexcusable-n-word-slur-girls-receipt.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Daily Mail}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rocha |first=Isai |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP Writes N-Word On Customer Receipt, Apologizes With $10 |url=https://www.foodbeast.com/news/ihop-receipt-slur/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Food Beast}}</ref><blockquote>''"I think that’s really what made her mad. Of all the things you could call someone, you call them that. And then the way you deal with it is by giving them 10 dollars?"''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Staples |first=Louis |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP customer called the 'N-word' by worker on receipt, receives $10 gift card as apology |url=https://www.indy100.com/news/ihop-racism-receipt-gift-card-apology-missouri-maya-thomas-8335851 |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Indy100}}</ref></blockquote>IHOP President Darren Rebelez released the following statement;<blockquote>''"IHOP and its franchisees do not and will not tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment of any kind. The franchisee, who owns and operates this restaurant, once made aware of the incident, terminated the employee in question and immediately contacted the guest to apologize. For 60 years, IHOP and our franchisees have strived to create a warm and hospitable dining experience for all guests, and we are currently working with the franchisee to ensure all possible steps are taken to deliver on that promise.”''<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2018 |title=IHOP server fired for printing racial slur on teen's receipt |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/ihop-server-fired-for-printing-racial-slur-on-teens-receipt |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Fox News}}</ref></blockquote>Later, a spokesperson for IHOP confirmed the employee was terminated following the incident.<blockquote>''" The franchisee was made aware on the 13th, an investigation was launched that same day and the server was terminated”.''<ref name=":1" /> </blockquote>
On 11 April at Grandview, Missouri, a 19 year old women Maya Thomas went to IHOP to purchase Colorado, Big Steak, and eggs. Upon exiting the restaurant, she discovered a black employee added an discriminatory word to her receipt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=Tanasia |date=3 May 2018 |title=IHOP Offers Customer $10 Gift Card as Apology After Waitress Writes Racial Slur on Receipt |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2018/05/03/ihop-customer-receives-10-gift-card-apology-waitress-writes-racial-slur-receipt/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Atlanta Black Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Callahan |first=Yesha |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP Customer Called the N-Word on Receipt Receives $10 Gift Card as Apology |url=https://www.theroot.com/ihop-customer-called-the-n-word-on-receipt-receives-10-gift-card-as-apology |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=The Root}}</ref> Two days later, Maya contacted IHOP, however they received a 10 IHOP gift certificate via mail days later, resulting in the mother posting the incident on social media and commenting on the situation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP Customer Had N-Word Printed on Receipt, Got $10 Gift Certificate |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5688669/Missouri-IHOP-fires-black-server-printed-inexcusable-n-word-slur-girls-receipt.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Daily Mail}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rocha |first=Isai |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP Writes N-Word On Customer Receipt, Apologizes With $10 |url=https://www.foodbeast.com/news/ihop-receipt-slur/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Food Beast}}</ref><blockquote>''"I think that’s really what made her mad. Of all the things you could call someone, you call them that. And then the way you deal with it is by giving them 10 dollars?"''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Staples |first=Louis |date=4 May 2018 |title=IHOP customer called the 'N-word' by worker on receipt, receives $10 gift card as apology |url=https://www.indy100.com/news/ihop-racism-receipt-gift-card-apology-missouri-maya-thomas-8335851 |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Indy100}}</ref></blockquote>IHOP President Darren Rebelez released the following statement;<blockquote>''"IHOP and its franchisees do not and will not tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment of any kind. The franchisee, who owns and operates this restaurant, once made aware of the incident, terminated the employee in question and immediately contacted the guest to apologize. For 60 years, IHOP and our franchisees have strived to create a warm and hospitable dining experience for all guests, and we are currently working with the franchisee to ensure all possible steps are taken to deliver on that promise.”''<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2018 |title=IHOP server fired for printing racial slur on teen's receipt |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/ihop-server-fired-for-printing-racial-slur-on-teens-receipt |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Fox News}}</ref></blockquote>Later, a spokesperson for IHOP confirmed the employee was terminated following the incident.<blockquote>''"The franchisee was made aware on the 13th, an investigation was launched that same day and the server was terminated”.''<ref name=":1" /> </blockquote>


===Requesting Teenagers to prepay before receiving service (''2018'')===
===Requesting Teenagers to prepay before receiving service (''2018'')===
in a now deleted [[Facebook]] post, On 11 March customer Avery Gagne alleged dinning with his family when he overheard a waitress telling a group of black teenager to prepay, saying it was ''“a new generation thing.”'' The family then questioned the employee,  which they responded it was due to management having issues with customers walking out and nothing related to race.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gagne |first=Avery |date=11 Mar 2018 |title=Avery Gagne Facebook Post |url=https://www.facebook.com/avery.gagne/posts/1683431881692095 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909020133/https://www.facebook.com/avery.gagne/posts/1683431881692095 |archive-date=9 Sep 2019 |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Facebook}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP Waitress Tells Group of Black Teenagers to Pay First Before Eating |url=https://blacknews.com/news/ihop-waitress-tells-group-of-black-teenagers-to-pay-first-before-eating/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Black News}}</ref> After gaining traction on social media the next day IHOP manager Melvin Escobar posted on the [[Facebook]] and commented about the situation in a interview with Sun Journal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gander |first=Kashmira |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=Ihop Manager Apologizes After Waiter Told Black Teenagers to Pay Before Eating |url=https://www.newsweek.com/black-teenagers-told-leave-ihop-842160 |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Newsweek}}</ref><blockquote>''“A meeting has taken place with all of our staff members. Everyone has been made aware of these inexcusable actions and reminded how we handle matters correctly in the future,” the post read. “We have rectified the situation and can guarantee this is not what we condone to go on within our restaurant. Please spare our credibility, as this situation is not a reflection of the service we strive to deliver.”''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Criss |first=Doug |date=16 Mar 2018 |title=A waitress asked some black teens to prepay for their meal. A fellow diner wasn’t having that |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/15/us/maine-ihop-race-trnd/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Tice |first=Lindsay |date=12 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP Auburn denies discrimination, apologizes for making teens prepay |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/ihop-auburn-denies-discrimination-apologizes-for-making-teens-prepay/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312215058/https://www.sunjournal.com/ihop-auburn-denies-discrimination-apologizes-for-making-teens-prepay/ |archive-date=12 Mar 2018 |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Sun Journal}}</ref>
In a now deleted [[Facebook]] post, on 11 March customer Avery Gagne alleged dinning with his family when he overheard a waitress telling a group of black teenager to prepay, saying it was ''“a new generation thing.”'' The family then questioned the employee,  which they responded it was due to management having issues with customers walking out and nothing related to race.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gagne |first=Avery |date=11 Mar 2018 |title=Avery Gagne Facebook Post |url=https://www.facebook.com/avery.gagne/posts/1683431881692095 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909020133/https://www.facebook.com/avery.gagne/posts/1683431881692095 |archive-date=9 Sep 2019 |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Facebook}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP Waitress Tells Group of Black Teenagers to Pay First Before Eating |url=https://blacknews.com/news/ihop-waitress-tells-group-of-black-teenagers-to-pay-first-before-eating/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Black News}}</ref> After gaining traction on social media the next day IHOP manager Melvin Escobar posted on the [[Facebook]] and commented about the situation in a interview with Sun Journal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gander |first=Kashmira |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=Ihop Manager Apologizes After Waiter Told Black Teenagers to Pay Before Eating |url=https://www.newsweek.com/black-teenagers-told-leave-ihop-842160 |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Newsweek}}</ref><blockquote>''“A meeting has taken place with all of our staff members. Everyone has been made aware of these inexcusable actions and reminded how we handle matters correctly in the future,” the post read. “We have rectified the situation and can guarantee this is not what we condone to go on within our restaurant. Please spare our credibility, as this situation is not a reflection of the service we strive to deliver.”''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Criss |first=Doug |date=16 Mar 2018 |title=A waitress asked some black teens to prepay for their meal. A fellow diner wasn’t having that |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/15/us/maine-ihop-race-trnd/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Tice |first=Lindsay |date=12 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP Auburn denies discrimination, apologizes for making teens prepay |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/ihop-auburn-denies-discrimination-apologizes-for-making-teens-prepay/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312215058/https://www.sunjournal.com/ihop-auburn-denies-discrimination-apologizes-for-making-teens-prepay/ |archive-date=12 Mar 2018 |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Sun Journal}}</ref>


''I’m personally, for me, kind of offended because I’m a Spanish person. I'm the type of person to say, ‘Here we help different kinds. Everybody I believe is American. Everybody is the same.’ We’re not racist. The policy is you come in, enjoy and we charge you at the end like a normal restaurant. . .She took her own action."''<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>IHOP President Darren Rebelez released a statement on 13 March, stating it was an "isolate incident" and claiming it's reaching out to the affect group and insuring appropriate disciplinary action.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP 'Zero Tolerance' For Servers Treatment Of Black Teens |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kZ_ZBSOrsc |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Youtbe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP server tells black teens to pay up before eating |url=https://nypost.com/2018/03/13/ihop-server-tells-black-teens-to-pay-up-before-eating/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=New York Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP apologizes to black teens forced to prepay for meal |url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/ihop-apologizes-to-black-teens-forced-to-prepay-for-meal-update/19421623 |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=WMTW}}</ref>  
''I’m personally, for me, kind of offended because I’m a Spanish person. I'm the type of person to say, ‘Here we help different kinds. Everybody I believe is American. Everybody is the same.’ We’re not racist. The policy is you come in, enjoy and we charge you at the end like a normal restaurant. . .She took her own action."''<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>IHOP President Darren Rebelez released a statement on 13 March, stating it was an "isolate incident" and claiming it's reaching out to the affect group and insuring appropriate disciplinary action.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP 'Zero Tolerance' For Servers Treatment Of Black Teens |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kZ_ZBSOrsc |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Youtbe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP server tells black teens to pay up before eating |url=https://nypost.com/2018/03/13/ihop-server-tells-black-teens-to-pay-up-before-eating/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=New York Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Mar 2018 |title=IHOP apologizes to black teens forced to prepay for meal |url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/ihop-apologizes-to-black-teens-forced-to-prepay-for-meal-update/19421623 |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=WMTW}}</ref>  


===Refusing to serve customers due to their race (''2024'')===
===Refusing to serve customers due to their race (''2024'')===
On 26 December Keisha Mitchel and her boyfriend Elvis Polley went to Denny's to celebrate Elvis birthday.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Sophie |date=13 Feb 2024 |title=Shocking moment Texas IHOP waiter DEFENDS racist co-worker who refused to serve black couple because of their race |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13078801/ihop-texas-waiter-racist-refuse-serve-black-couple.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Dailymail}}</ref> When seated, the waitress told the couple they weren't going to receive service over being too pick, however an employee later told the group it was because of their color.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ardrey |first=Taylor |date=8 Jan 2024 |title=Three Texas IHOP Employees Fired After Black Couple Said They Were Not Served ‘Because of Our Color’ |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/01/08/three-texas-ihop-employees-were-fired-after-black-couple-sad-they-were-not-served-because-of-our-color/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Atlanta Black Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mugavero |first=Amelia |date=5 Jan 2024 |title=Couple faces racial discrimination at an IHOP in Mesquite |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/couple-faces-racial-discrimination-at-an-ihop-in-mesquite/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=CBS News}}</ref> Keisha recorded the incident and later posting it on '''[[TikTok|Tiktok]]''', commenting; ''"She didn't want to say she was racist, she said she's 'picky.' No, that's not being 'picky' if you're selecting only a certain group of people that you want to serve."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Daniel |date=7 Jan 2024 |title=IHOP Fires Workers After Investigation Of Racist Treatment Of Black Couple |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/ihop-fires-workers-racist-treatment-black-couple/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Black Enterprise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Mars |date=15 Feb 2024 |title=‘Being broke and racist is crazy’: Customers call out IHOP worker who refuses to serve them |url=https://dailydot.com/ihop-refuses-to-serve-black-customers |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Dailydot}}</ref>
On 26 December, Keisha Mitchel and her boyfriend Elvis Polley went to an IHOP restaurant located in Auburn, Maine, to celebrate Elvis birthday.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Sophie |date=13 Feb 2024 |title=Shocking moment Texas IHOP waiter DEFENDS racist co-worker who refused to serve black couple because of their race |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13078801/ihop-texas-waiter-racist-refuse-serve-black-couple.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Dailymail}}</ref> When seated, the waitress told the couple they weren't going to receive service over being too pick, however an employee later told the group it was because of their color.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ardrey |first=Taylor |date=8 Jan 2024 |title=Three Texas IHOP Employees Fired After Black Couple Said They Were Not Served ‘Because of Our Color’ |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/01/08/three-texas-ihop-employees-were-fired-after-black-couple-sad-they-were-not-served-because-of-our-color/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Atlanta Black Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mugavero |first=Amelia |date=5 Jan 2024 |title=Couple faces racial discrimination at an IHOP in Mesquite |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/couple-faces-racial-discrimination-at-an-ihop-in-mesquite/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=CBS News}}</ref> Keisha recorded the incident and later posting it on '''[[TikTok|Tiktok]]''', commenting; ''"She didn't want to say she was racist, she said she's 'picky.' No, that's not being 'picky' if you're selecting only a certain group of people that you want to serve."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Daniel |date=7 Jan 2024 |title=IHOP Fires Workers After Investigation Of Racist Treatment Of Black Couple |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/ihop-fires-workers-racist-treatment-black-couple/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Black Enterprise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Mars |date=15 Feb 2024 |title=‘Being broke and racist is crazy’: Customers call out IHOP worker who refuses to serve them |url=https://dailydot.com/ihop-refuses-to-serve-black-customers |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Dailydot}}</ref>


IHOP franchisee  Anthraper Restaurant would release the following statement;<blockquote>''"Since our founding, we have strived to create warm and hospitable dining experiences for all guests, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, or actions that allude to any form of discrimination. We have fully investigated this matter and taken appropriate actions, including termination of the employees involved. This isolated incident is not reflective of our ongoing commitment to our guests and Team Members.'' ''Additionally, we will be providing additional anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training to ensuring that all remaining Team Members understand the company's unwavering intolerance of any prohibited form of discrimination."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ledet |first=Jovonne |date=9 Jan 2024 |title=IHOP Workers Fired After Allegedly Refusing To Serve Black Couple |url=https://www.binnews.com/content/2024-01-09-ihop-workers-fired-after-allegedly-refusing-to-serve-black-couple/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Black Information Network}}</ref></blockquote>
IHOP franchisee  Anthraper Restaurant would release the following statement;<blockquote>''"Since our founding, we have strived to create warm and hospitable dining experiences for all guests, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, or actions that allude to any form of discrimination. We have fully investigated this matter and taken appropriate actions, including termination of the employees involved. This isolated incident is not reflective of our ongoing commitment to our guests and Team Members.'' ''Additionally, we will be providing additional anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training to ensuring that all remaining Team Members understand the company's unwavering intolerance of any prohibited form of discrimination."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ledet |first=Jovonne |date=9 Jan 2024 |title=IHOP Workers Fired After Allegedly Refusing To Serve Black Couple |url=https://www.binnews.com/content/2024-01-09-ihop-workers-fired-after-allegedly-refusing-to-serve-black-couple/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 Apr 2026 |website=Black Information Network}}</ref></blockquote>
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