A Cinnabon employee in the United States has been summarily dismissed after a video capturing her subjecting customers to a torrent of racist abuse went viral online.
Shocking Incident Caught on Camera
The undated video, which spread rapidly across social media, shows the staff member at a Cinnabon outlet in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, directing a racist slur at two customers. The employee can be seen and heard declaring "I am racist," making obscene gestures with her middle fingers, and telling the patrons to "suck it."
According to a report from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the two individuals targeted were a Somali couple. During the confrontation, one customer warned the employee, "You're ruining your life, by the way," while another stated, "You are fired from this place."
Company's Swift Response and Condemnation
Facing a public relations crisis, Cinnabon and the franchise owner acted quickly. A company spokesperson confirmed to The Independent on Sunday 7 December 2025 that the worker had been "immediately terminated".
"Their actions and statements are completely unacceptable and in no way reflect the values of Cinnabon," the spokesperson stated. "We take this situation seriously and remain committed to ensuring all guests are treated with dignity, respect, and kindness." The company also issued a similar statement directly on the social media platform X in response to the viral clip.
Broader Context of Rising Anti-Somali Sentiment
This disturbing episode occurs against a backdrop of escalating hostile rhetoric towards Somali communities in America. Earlier in the week, former President Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants, claiming he didn't want them in the country and falsely alleging they contribute nothing.
In an extraordinary rant, Trump also targeted Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia, calling her "garbage." Omar responded on X, saying, "His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs."
Simultaneously, reports from the Associated Press indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched an operation in Minneapolis – home to the largest Somali community in the US – primarily focusing on Somali immigrants. The operation has reportedly led to at least a dozen arrests.
The climate of fear is now affecting even US citizens of Somali descent. Linus Chan of the University of Minnesota Law School's Detainee Rights Clinic told The Intercept that citizens have contacted him, anxious about how to prove their citizenship status. "People are worried about their family and friends and neighbors, but even citizens are worried for themselves," Chan said.
The firing of the Cinnabon employee underscores a single act of bigotry within a wider, concerning national pattern of targeted hostility.
