Smoothie King fires two employees for refusing service to MAGA customer

PoliticsOpinion
4 Mar 2026 • 6:37 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Two Smoothie King employees were dismissed after refusing to serve a customer wearing a Donald Trump hoodie at a franchise in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  • The customer's wife, Erika Lindemyer, filmed the incident, which went viral, showing employees stating they were “uncomfortable” and that “Trump discriminates us.”
  • The couple challenged the refusal as discrimination based on political views, while the employees cited their right to refuse service.
  • Smoothie King's corporate office and the local franchise owner issued an apology to the customer, affirming their commitment to non-discrimination.
  • The company confirmed the employees' termination and announced mandatory retraining for all staff to ensure adherence to guest experience standards.

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