A Cinnabon location in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, has become the center of a national debate after a worker was fired for directing racist comments at Somali customers during a tense encounter caught on video.
The clip spread quickly across social media, prompting outrage from viewers and a swift response from the company.
Cinnabon issued a public statement confirming the employee had been terminated immediately by the franchise owner. The company added that what happened did not represent its values or the experience customers should receive.
While the video sparked widespread backlash, a very different reaction unfolded on a conservative crowdfunding platform.
A campaign titled “Stand With Crystal” launched shortly after her firing. The fundraiser, which leaned heavily into racially charged language, framed the former employee as a victim rather than the aggressor. Donations poured in at a rapid pace.
The fundraiser’s description claimed she was a hardworking mother who had been wronged by her employer, despite clear footage showing the confrontation and her racially targeted remarks.
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