Hale and Hearty Waterloo: Mark Da Costa slammed for Donald Trump support
The owner of an inner city Sydney vegan restaurant is proud in his backing of the US President but claims the “left wing fake vegan community” is trying to destroy his business as a result.
Wentworth Courier
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A Donald Trump and Pauline Hanson supporting owner of a vegan restaurant in Waterloo claims he is under attack by the “left wing fake vegan community”.
Outraged social media users are giving Hale and Hearty Waterloo negative reviews and flooding the Facebook page with comments labelling restaurateur Mark Da Costa a “racist”.
Mr Da Costa said the vitriol began after a university student posted screenshots from his private social media accounts in which he expressed support for Donald Trump and Pauline Hanson.
“He posted to some of the most popular vegan sites and told all the vegans in Sydney to boycott Hale and Hearty and avoid us like the plague because we are racists, bigots, transphobes,” Mr Da Costa said.
“To go and destroy a family business is and was a terrifying experience.
“We faced the destruction of my business via left wing vegan trolls so I thought, ‘how do I defend myself?’
“I thought the best form of defence is attack. So I thought, I’m going to play my cards, tell you who I am face-to-face.”
As a result Mr Da Costa has began posting his political views to the Hale and Hearty Facebook page and sarcastically responding to accusations he is a racist.
“Today we announce that we are a @realdonaldtrump safe zone. A place to discuss what’s in your heart without prejudice. Hold tight people, freedom of speech will be back. To all our past American friends and guests stay strong,” reads one post.
“Hey guys how you doing? It’s Mark here, the most racist vegan on the planet, here to tell you today we are doing $10 plant based pancakes,” he said in a video posted this week.
“So if you want Sydney’s best pancakes with a side of racism, come and see us.”
Last night, the restaurant had one of its busiest trades since it launched with Trump supporters from across Sydney coming to buy dinner or takeaway to show their support.
However, his detractors are equally vocal.
While the Wentworth Courier was interviewing Mr Da Costa, he was accosted by an elderly man who called him a c***.
“Stop with all this political crap. Focus on what’s positive and exciting. PS You have lost me as a customer along with my family. We were there on opening night and was blown away with your food, service and restaurant. What you have done is disgusting,” one comment on Facebook read.
“You are about to be cancelled by humanity,” another posted.
Mr Da Costa said he was far from bigoted and in fact a vocal supporter of the black and LGBT communities having lived in Redfern and Surry Hills for his entire life.
“We’ve always supported the gay and LGBT community,” he said.
“When they were hosting the plebiscite we posted, ‘yes we support you’.
“I’m combating it with love. I’ve just got to keep my mission statement strong, keep running my restaurant.
“I’m not backing down – it’s do or die now for this business now that I’ve laid my chips down on the table.”