An Asda worker has been sacked after being filmed hurling racist abuse at a black nightclub bouncer during a night out in Rochdale. Daisy Johnson, 21, who worked on the click-and-collect counter at the town's Asda store, was dismissed with immediate effect after footage emerged of her directing abuse at a security guard outside Ko Ko Lounge last Saturday night.
The video shows Johnson, who is thought to have been drinking, making racist remarks and gestures towards the bouncer after being asked to move away from the venue. When she realised her outburst was being recorded, she allegedly attempted to grab the guard's phone.
Footage shows abuse and monkey impression
Footage shared online by Platinum Security Events, the firm providing security staff to the nightclub, captures Johnson shouting: "Look at the state of you, you big b**** m*****. Look at the f****** state of you." She then appears to imitate a monkey before attempting to slap the camera from the bouncer's hand. Johnson also directs abuse at another security guard and a clubgoer.
The incident has prompted a police investigation, while Johnson has deleted her social media accounts amid the backlash. She is also understood to have left Rochdale to stay with friends in another city.
Witness describes confrontation
A witness who saw the confrontation said she tried to step in after witnessing the abuse, only to become a target herself. She said: "She was imitating a monkey, dancing like a gorilla… calling him 'sewer trash'," reports Mail Online. "I came outside and I saw this poor man being verbally abused by her right in his face. I said: ‘What are you doing? You can’t be doing that? Just go home’. Then she turned the abuse towards me."
Asda has confirmed Johnson has lost her job at its Rochdale store following a review of the available evidence. A spokesperson for the supermarket said: "We do not tolerate any form of abusive behaviour from our colleagues. Having reviewed the available evidence, it’s clear that the colleague’s conduct fell significantly short of the standards we expect and they have been dismissed with immediate effect."
Security firm and family respond
The security company that published the footage said it had made an exception to its usual approach of not sharing incidents involving its staff because it believed the video highlighted the abuse security workers can face. In a statement accompanying the clip, Platinum Security Events said: "Normally, we wouldn’t share footage of incidents involving security staff. However, on this occasion, we feel it’s important to raise awareness of the abuse door supervisors can face simply for doing their jobs. We fully understand the nature of the job. We recognise that our staff will encounter challenging situations, verbal abuse, threats and sometimes physical confrontations. But just because abuse is expected, doesn’t mean it should be accepted. Why should anyone have to go to work and be subjected to this level of abuse from a member of the public? Door supervisors are there to keep customers, staff and venues safe. They deserve the same dignity and respect as anyone else in their workplace. Nobody should have to tolerate this kind of treatment simply for doing their job."
Johnson’s mother, Cheryl King, spoke about the fallout from the incident at the family’s home in Rochdale. She said her daughter did not want to comment publicly and was struggling with the abuse she had received since the footage circulated online. Ms King said: "She does not want to say anything. She is not in the right frame of mind to say anything. She has had so much abuse and even death threats that she has been in hiding. She is mortified about how this has been portrayed. She knows what she did was wrong but the whole video has not been put out there. People have been on TikTok telling lies." She added: "As her mother I would only like to say that she is a good girl, a good hard working girl but I don’t want to say any more."
Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were investigating reports of racial abuse in Rochdale town centre, but no arrests have been made. A force spokesperson said: "We are aware of reports of racial abuse in Rochdale town centre which are being discussed on social media. A report has been made to GMP and enquiries are ongoing. We are reviewing available evidence and speaking to those involved. We are asking anyone with information that may assist our investigation to please come forward and contact us on 101 quoting log 662 of 20/10/2026."
