A Cinnabon employee in the United States has been dismissed from her position following a disturbing public confrontation in which she directed a stream of racist abuse at two Somali customers. The incident, captured on video, has ignited widespread condemnation and debate online.
The Confrontation at Bay Park Square Mall
The altercation took place at a Cinnabon outlet inside the Bay Park Square Mall in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, located roughly ten minutes from Green Bay. According to Sabrina Osman, who shared the video originally posted to TikTok last Friday, her cousin and her cousin's husband – a Black Somali Muslim couple – visited the bakery for a treat.
Osman stated that the atmosphere felt immediately unwelcoming due to the facial expressions and attitude of the worker, later identified as 43-year-old Crystal Wilsey. Tensions reportedly escalated when Osman's cousin asked for extra caramel on a pecan cinnamon roll. After noticing the caramel was running low, the customer inquired if more was available.
It was at this point, Osman claims, that Wilsey became frustrated and launched into a racially charged tirade. In the viral clip, Wilsey, wearing a grey sweatshirt, is seen and heard repeatedly using the n-word and other profanities.
Explicit Abuse and Immediate Fallout
"B**** a*** n*****. I am racist, and you are a n*****," Wilsey declared to the couple. When the male customer called her an idiot, she doubled down, stating, "I am racist and I'll say that to the whole entire world." The exchange grew increasingly vulgar, with Wilsey raising her middle fingers, making crude gestures, and telling the couple to "Suck it!"
Osman also alleged that Wilsey targeted her cousin's hijab, referring to it as a "witch-craft bandana." Following the incident, Cinnabon and the franchise owner acted swiftly. A company spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that Wilsey was "immediately terminated" because her "actions and statements are completely unacceptable and in no way reflect the values of Cinnabon."
Dueling Narratives and Fundraisers
The incident has provoked strong reactions and competing narratives online. Osman set up a GoFundMe for her traumatised relatives, who she says now fear going outside. "The racism is getting out of hand nowadays," she wrote, seeking recommendations for legal counsel. That page had raised nearly $560 by Sunday.
Conversely, a fundraiser for Wilsey on GiveSendGo presented a different story, portraying her as a "hardworking White mom" who was "harassed" and "intimidated" during her shift. That campaign had garnered over $109,000 by Sunday morning, with its description arguing that "No White person should lose their job for refusing to be harassed."
Public records reviewed by the Daily Mail reveal that Wilsey has a lengthy criminal history, including past charges for disorderly conduct, drug possession, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and child endangerment, though some cases were dismissed.
The fallout has also extended to Cinnabon's brand, with some criticising the decision to fire Wilsey while others praised it. The case underscores the potent and divisive nature of public allegations of racism and the rapid real-world consequences that can follow when such incidents go viral.
