Brazilian Waitress Triumphs in Race Discrimination Case Yet Awaits £35,000 Payout
A Brazilian waitress who successfully sued her former employer for race discrimination after enduring humiliating comments about her accent has revealed she has not received a single penny of her £35,526 tribunal award. Ana Beatriz Machado, a 31-year-old single mother living in Liverpool, won the substantial compensation following a five-day employment tribunal hearing in October 2025, but the financial victory remains purely on paper.
Harassment and Unfounded Accusations at Coyote Ugly
Ms Machado worked as a 'Coyote'—the term for female bartenders at the Western-themed Coyote Ugly Saloon in Liverpool—from December 2021 until her dismissal on New Year's Eve 2022. During her employment, she was subjected to persistent harassment by colleague Rhiannon Freeman, who told other staff not to pass the bar's microphone to Ms Machado because customers 'don't understand her' due to her Brazilian accent.
The tribunal heard that Ms Freeman repeatedly described Ms Machado as 'weird', claimed she 'struggled to communicate', and stated she 'did not like her voice'. Employment Judge Jane Callan ruled these comments constituted unlawful race harassment, noting that '[her] accent is intrinsic to her nationality' and the conduct created 'an offensive environment'.
Wrongful Dismissal Linked to Nationality
The situation escalated when assistant manager Rebecca Fitzsimmons accused Ms Machado of stealing money from the tills and sending it to her family in Sorocaba, Brazil—allegations the tribunal found to be unsupported by evidence. Judge Callan determined that Ms Fitzsimmons was influenced by Ms Machado's nationality when making the decision to dismiss her, ruling the firing itself was 'an act of harassment' related to her Brazilian heritage.
The compensation award of £35,526 included £15,000 for injury to feelings and nearly £13,000 for past financial losses. Despite this legal victory, payment has not been forthcoming from Swansea Audio Ltd, the company that operated the Coyote Ugly venue at the time.
Company Debt and New Business Ventures
Recent Companies House filings reveal Swansea Audio Ltd accumulated debts of £888,000 as of June 30, 2025, with employee numbers plummeting from 100 in 2024 to just 15. Meanwhile, director Steve Lewis established a new entity, Coyote Ugly Limited, in May 2024—a development Ms Machado finds particularly galling as she continues to wait for her award.
'I feel like they spent loads of money paying solicitors to fight me, which actually would cost way more than just paying me instead,' Ms Machado told the BBC. 'It makes me feel like any big company can do whatever they want with people.' She described her legal battle as a 'David vs. Goliath' scenario that has resulted in only 'half a win' without the financial compensation.
Severe Personal and Financial Consequences
The experience has taken a devastating toll on Ms Machado's wellbeing and finances. She developed anxiety and depression that caused her to 'stop eating' and 'stop sleeping', requiring NHS medication to manage her symptoms. As a single parent to five-year-old daughter Ella—a UK citizen through whom Ms Machado has leave to remain—she faced dire financial hardship.
'Without work, I couldn't afford anything for my daughter. I would be going to the food bank to get some food,' she explained. 'It was December, nearly January, and all the bills for December weren't paid. So at this time, I was very scared. I had no money for food.'
It took a full year for Ms Machado to secure new employment at Hooters, during which time she lived in constant fear that false accusations might follow her. 'When I finally found my new job, I lived in fear for a long time that they might dismiss me for any mistake I could make,' she admitted. 'I was afraid of opening the till and I was afraid of the tips I might receive.'
Fighting to Clear Her Name
Beyond the financial compensation, Ms Machado emphasized that her primary motivation was to clear her name from the theft allegations. 'For me, the greatest fight was to clear my name,' she stated. 'When an employer takes everything from you, including the most important thing—your name—you are left trapped in fear, shame, and insecurity.'
She expressed concern that 'nobody would trust me ever again' and felt used as a 'joke' because of her immigrant status. The tribunal's ruling validated her experience, but without the awarded funds materializing, she considers the outcome incomplete and described the company's failure to pay as 'disgusting' and 'feels personal'.
As Swansea Audio Ltd's financial situation appears increasingly precarious, Ms Machado's prospects of receiving her £35,526 compensation grow dimmer, leaving a legal victory that remains frustratingly theoretical for the Brazilian waitress who fought successfully for justice but continues to await its tangible benefits.
