Waiting Staff Refused Tip Because Of Their Sexual Preference

There have been many cases in the United States when customers have refused to tip the waiting staff for the most bizarre reasons. However, this recent case where Samantha Heaton, working in Buffalo Wild Wings in Rockford, Illinois, claimed that customers refused to tip her because of her sexual preferences is probably, one of the most peculiar.

The family apparently refused to tip her after looking at her LGBT tattoo and scrawled a message on their receipt. The picture of the same has been shared online several times, It read, “can't tip someone who doesn't love Jesus.” They also scribbled, “bad tattoo” on it.

After the incident, Heaton's friend and co worker, Joelle Nicole Maish shared the picture of the statement along with Heaton’s tattoo.

Talking to River Red Times, Heaton said that she was really hurt when she saw the message as she had served the family well. “I went above and beyond for this couple, and for them to leave that kind of hurt,” she said.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that customers have refused to tip waiting staff because of their sexual preferences.

Back in 2016, a waitress in Oklahoma claimed that a couple left her detestable words instead of a tip for her services. Taylor Stewart who waited tables at the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) said, “When I went to pick up the check, I read it and I thought it said 'gay is wrong', and I went and showed my girlfriend, and she was like, 'What?' And she said it said 'gay is wrong'. I was just shocked. I was more shocked than hurt, but I mean it did hurt,” speaking to KFOR –TV.

She further said that she does believe in free speech but people should be careful of what they say.

Another similar incident took place back in 2013 when a waiter at an Italian restaurant called Carrabba's Italian Grill in Overland Park, Kansas, also got a note where the customers denied him a tip because of his apparent gay lifestyle.

The receipt read, “Thank you for your service, it was excellent. That being said, we cannot in good conscience tip you, for your homosexual lifestyle is an affront to God. May God have mercy on you.”

NBC affiliate 41 KSHB had spoken to a friend of him who refused to identify the waiter because of contractual issues. He said, "It saddened me, of course, Personally, because I feel for the young man and know his work ethic, it hurt to see that somebody would say those things and shortchange him."

Back in 2013, there was one more incident in New Jersey where waitress Dayna Morales claimed that a couple refused to tip her and wrote a message on the $93.55 receipt saying, “I'm sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with what your lifestyle and how you live your life.”

Speaking to CNN, Morales said, “I was offended. I was mad at first, and then I was more so hurt.”

Morales also went ahead and posted her story on a Facebook page by the name “Have a Gay Day” and got plenty tips from all over the world.

However, the couple later denied Morales’ claims stating that they did tip her. A report on television station NBC4 also showed the receipt from the family who dined at the restaurant displaying an $18 tip on a receipt of $93.55, and a credit card statement of $111.55, CNN reported.

The manager, Bobby Vanderhoof of the Gallop Asian Bistro later spoke to CNN after the incident and said, “The results of that investigation are inconclusive as to exactly what happened between Ms. Morales and the customers that night. However, in light of the investigation and recent events, both Ms. Morales and Gallop Asian Bistro have made a joint decision that Ms. Morales will no longer continue her employment at our restaurant.”