Rosman Harris and Marcus Robertson never asked for the extra side of homophobia when they ordered a pizza from Little Caesars in Henrico, Virginia this week.
But that’s what they got.
When the men went to pay for their food, the cashier presented them with a receipt. Between the order number and the date was the word: GAY.
Harris and Robertson tell WTVR that the cashier never asked for them their names; however, the customers before and after them were all asked.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The men also say that, while they both identify as gay, they never mentioned this to anyone in the store because, well, why would they?
“It was this preconceived notion of, ‘Oh, these are gay men.’ So, why would you write that on the ticket? I’m not understanding that,” Harris says.
When the guys asked to speak to the manager, he wouldn’t tell them why their receipt said that, although he did tell Robertson’s cousin that the guys were being “loud and rude”, not that that explains anything.
Robertson’s cousin replied by telling the manager that Robertson is hearing impaired and that’s why speaks loudly.
As for the cashier who wrote “GAY” on the men’s receipt, the manager said the restaurant was too short-staffed to fire anyone; however, the pizza chain’s corporate office put out a statement saying she was let go, citing a “violation of professional conduct.”
“This is a highly unusual, isolated situation at a store locally owned and operated by a franchisee,” the statement said.
“The franchise owner took immediate action to investigate this matter and has terminated the employment of the individual involved in the incident.”
Harris and Robertson say the pizza chain has yet to apologize to them.
QueerTruth
This is news? Really?
Bob LaBlah
You know, for a brief second the thought did go thru my mind this could be a set up for a lawsuit. All parties involved could be in on it. What raises the red flag? You gave a ticket to a customer KNOWING they were going to see the word gay on it and I think it safe to assume there was video surveillance that got all of it. Hey don’t blame me, blame Jussie.
@DmitriyR
loud, rude, and “GAY” – is there anything common?
Rob Moore
Do you just live to make snarky remarks about Queerty articles? If this isn’t news to you, I hesitate to think what you might deem as acceptable to term as news.
Mainere
*checks the author*……Oh.
Heywood Jablowme
The real horror here is they had to eat Little Caesar’s pizza.
lord.krath
Thank you!
Though places like Little Caesar’s are popular among college folk that are on a budget.
Also, this isn’t really news. But at least the store owner took action and that action was reported. I suppose that is the real news. In light of all of the bad news the community gets at least there was some accountability in this instance.
Bob LaBlah
The real horror here is how they clearly didn’t have sense enough to simply do the same thing that frustrated individual did to them: turn around, walk out the store and take your MONEY elsewhere. Why kiss some one’s rear end to take your money when there are other alternatives. It is inconceivable to think a Domino’s wasn’t nearby with online order and delivery available. If I feel you have have a product that I want to buy but you also need my money to keep the lights on.
Vince
No apology is needed. This was just a douchebag employee who was rightfully fired. End of story.
dean089
Exactly. The franchise owner handled the situation promptly. Which, if they chose to get involved, is all Little Caesars corporation would need to say.
niles
I think the jury’s still out as to whether they were being loud and rude, and I’m not sure if the word “gay” should necessarily be seen as a pejorative term. I am hereby adopting an attitude of playing devil’s advocate from now on, after the absolutely embarrassing spectacle that has played out recently.
1898
if a gay employee put “straight” on a straight couple’s receipt, they would make a huge stink about it and the conservatives would go out of their minds
GoddessHadeev
The customer said he is hearing impaired. No one with a disability is required to disclose their disabled status when in public, because they can be discriminated against. The cashier discriminated against him, and deserved to be fired. You don’t use homophobic slurs against anyone, especially customers. It’s not funny or cute. Definitely unprofessional. I wouldn’t have paid for the food, and walked out. The franchise owner should’ve apologized for the shitty employee’s behavior, and offered the customer some free food. The LGBTQ community has lot of spending power. There are enough of us who can ruin a business’s reputation, and shut them down. Remember how Chick-fil-A and Papa John’s Pizza took a hit years ago?
Mack
I agree with the hearing impaired statement. I am hearing impaired and even though I wear hearing aids, sometimes when the battery is low I end up speaking louder than I think I am. I also ran restaurants for 35 years and while you can’t always hire “perfect” employees bad ones do sneak in. I’m glad that the employee was fired, but the company AND the Franchisee should have apologized.
MarathonBoy
If you watch the WTVR video, you see that both of those guys suffer from fairly severe effeminacy. They look normal in still pics, but in the video, their problem is on full display. That’s why they got poor treatment at the pizzeria. Because they talk like girls, not because they are gay. Why these effeminate men don’t take the initiative and try to correct the problem and improve themselves is beyond me.
MISTERJETT
normal???? there’s no such thing as “normal” because we’re all different. no two people are the same. you’re the one with the problem to correct.
Heywood Jablowme
Are you a graduate of Butch Conversion Therapy? – lol
Bob LaBlah
Shhhhhhhhh. Never speak the truth here on Queerty.
paul dorian lord fredine
hey, blob leblob. what exactly in it’s comment do you consider ‘the truth’? if the two of you are supposed to be examples of what taking the initiative to ‘improve’ oneself is, no thanks, i’ll pass. besides, you’re the problem here. btw, i’d love to see a pic of either of you to see just exactly what ‘normal’ is supposed to look like. i could use a good laugh.
MarathonBoy
@MisterJett – Sure people are different, but that in no way means that normal doesn’t exist.
People’s bodies are unique in various ways. That doesn’t mean that cancer is normal. There are variations in men’s personalities. That doesn’t make talking and acting like a female normal. It never will be. Just as man naturally gags at the odor of feces, male effeminacy induces a natural state of revulsion in most other men. This is true regardless of race, class, religion, or sexual orientation.
Curtispsf
@MarathhonBoy Why stupid offensive people like you don’t take the initiative and try to correct the problem and improve yourself is beyond me.
Doug
Yet another incident in Virginia. The state is becoming the new Florida.
Curtispsf
Bob LeBlob and Marathon Boy should draw straws for who is “forced” to top.
Blackceo
This was horrible. Oh and Beelzebub, that whole “don’t blame me blame Jussie” thing reveals more about you than anything. I am not going to apologize that I immediately went to support him as a victim when the first story came out and I am still going to believe victims of discrimination, prejudice, and assault unless proven otherwise. Rightfully fired!!! I don’t care how you feel about a person. If you work in the service industry then you have to exhibit good customer service while the customer is present and then make your little comments after they leave.