Bondi cafe XS Espresso manager fired after racism accusation
After being accused of letting go a black man from their Bondi cafe because ‘locals are racist’, XS Espresso has now fired the manager responsible for the racist incident.
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Popular cafe chain XS Espresso has fired a manager at their Bondi store after being accused of racism by former employee Ayokunle Oluwalana.
“The Bondi store manager no longer works for the company. The store is currently under management of Head Office,” the company said in an Instagram post.
“Ayokunle has been offered further employment opportunities within XS and the offer still stands during the remaining time in the country, as his visa expires in November,” the post said.
XS Espresso said they were disappointed that the manager, who is also a person of colour, didn’t stand up to discrimination.
In an Instagram story last week, Mr Oluwalana said he had been fired because the locals in Bondi are racist.
“The last couple of weeks i’ve been working at a cafe in Bondi, called XS Espresso … it’s been going well, no complaints,” Mr Oluwalana said.
“Today after my shift the manager/owner pulls me aside and says ‘we’ve had some complaints about your coffee and we’re going to have to let you go’,” he said in the video.
Mr Oluwalana claims the manager of the cafe said “you know how Bondi is, the locals they’re a bit racist”.
“They like their coffee made by the barista that’s already there, who’s a white guy,” Mr Oluwalana said.
He said in the video that he had never received a complaint about his coffee and had only received compliments.
He said the manager told him “I really like you but the locals like their coffee a certain way”.
Mr Oluwalana also said on Twitter: “Basically got let go from my cafe job because the regulars aren’t used to a black guy making their coffee. I knew there was a reason I never liked Bondi, and this was it.”
After Mr Oluwalana’s video sparked outrage at the cafe, XS Espresso responded with an apology, however has not confirmed if the manager will be fired.
“This was an isolated incident of gross misconduct which should not have happened, and we are terribly remorseful for the treatment he received,” XS Espresso said in an Instagram post.
“As a brand we stand in solidarity against systemic racism, and are extremely disheartened and grieved that inequality was among us,” they said.
“As a company we’re auditing every part of our business to uncover racism and inequality.
Racist behaviour is not and has never been welcomed here.”
XS Espresso said in response to the incident, they will be retraining staff on anti-discrimination and will review their company policies.
They said the manager involved will experience “appropriate consequences” but did not elaborate on if the man would be fired.
The Daily Telegraph has contacted both Mr Oluwalana and XS Espresso for comment.