Key Takeaways
- Burger King condemned a white employee’s Halloween blackface and said the franchise owner is addressing the incident internally to ensure it “won’t happen again.”
- Customer Shavelle Devine filmed the drive-thru worker saying “I’m just Black today” and criticized other employees for treating the situation like a joke.
- The video reportedly drew about 200,000 Facebook views before spreading elsewhere, but neither Burger King nor the franchisee has disclosed whether the employee faced discipline.
Burger King has responded to a viral video showing a white employee wearing blackface while working at a drive-thru on Halloween, confirming that the restaurant's franchise owner is addressing the incident.
In a statement shared on Sunday (Nov. 1), the fast-food chain condemned the employee's actions and said the situation was being handled internally.
"We are aware of the video and take the matter very seriously," Burger King said. "The Franchisee of this location is addressing the situation with his team, manager, and Team Member to ensure everyone involved understands why this is not acceptable and won't happen again."
The controversy began on Oct. 31 when customer Shavelle Devine recorded an interaction with the employee at a Burger King drive-thru. The footage, which Devine shared on Facebook, reportedly accumulated approximately 200,000 views before circulating on other social media platforms.
In the video, the employee is seen wearing a Burger King uniform and headset with dark makeup covering her face. When Devine asks about her Halloween costume, the worker responds, "I'm just Black today," before suggesting that her appearance shouldn't be an issue "as long as you have a good heart."
The conversation takes another turn when Devine asks whether the employee supports Black Lives Matter. The worker says she doesn't and explains that she "just wanted to be Black."
Devine then questions whether the employee understands the struggles Black people face, prompting a contradictory response.
"Sorry, you're making me laugh, sorry, no, yes I do. Or I mean, no, I don't. No, I don't," the employee says.
Speaking with People, Devine criticized how the situation was handled by other employees, saying their reaction "seemed more like a joke" rather than something requiring immediate attention.
"I find this behavior completely unacceptable, offensive, and disrespectful," Devine said. "African Americans should not have to continuously explain why racism is offensive or why certain actions are unacceptable."
She also argued that Burger King has a responsibility to ensure customers and employees feel respected and safe regardless of their racial backgrounds.
Neither the company nor the franchisee has publicly confirmed whether the unidentified employee has been suspended, terminated, or otherwise disciplined.
