Burger King Says Franchisee Addressing Employee in Blackface

Burger King said a franchisee is addressing a white employee’s appearance in blackface while working at a drive-through on Halloween, but the company did not announce whether she had been disciplined or remained employed. A customer-recorded video showed the employee serving customers in a work uniform with dark makeup on her face. During the exchange, the customer questioned her about the makeup and whether she understood the experiences of Black people. The employee said she wanted to be Black for the day and acknowledged that she did not understand those experiences. Burger King said it took the video seriously and described the appearance as unacceptable. The company said the franchisee was addressing the situation with the employee, the manager and the team to help ensure they understood why it was unacceptable and that it would not happen again. The statement did not specify what action had been taken or outline additional preventive measures. The footage was recorded at a drive-through window while the employee was on duty. It does not establish whether a manager knew about the makeup before the shift or had an opportunity to intervene. The company’s statement did not...