Chicago zoo employee fired for complaining of serving 'rude ass white people'
An employee at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo who identified herself as Shana "Poohpooh" Latrice received scorn online for posting she was ‘serving these rude ass white people.”
Complaining about “these rude ass white people" got her fired.
A young black employee at a Chicago zoo was fired after she took to Facebook to complain about customers at a concession stand whom she referred to as "rude ass white people," a spokeswoman for the Brookfield Zoo told the Daily News.
The employee named Shana "Poohpooh" Latrice posted a picture of herself in uniform on her Facebook page Monday, which has since been deactivated. In her caption, she wrote "Wassup y'all? At work serving these rude ass white people."
But unfortunately for the frustrated employee the post was shared multiple times on social media and is making the rounds across the Internet.
The zoo began getting an onslaught of complaints from angry customers, some of whom threatened not to come back, prompting the animal facility to respond.
We have zero tolerance for these kinds of divisive behaviors.
Zoo spokeswoman Sondra Katzen said Latrice, who worked at a refreshment stand for the company's Guest Services Department, was terminated Tuesday morning. She did not know how long she had been employed at Brookfield.
On Tuesday morning the Brookfield Zoo released a statement on its Facebook page calling her action's unacceptable.
RAYMOND BOYD/GETTY IMAGES
The Brookfield Zoo said the comment was ‘unacceptable’ and terminated the employee the next day.
"This employee's statements in social media are in violation of our policies and do not reflect our institution's values," the statement read. "We have zero tolerance for these kinds of divisive behaviors."
The organization added they took "prompt action to remedy the situation" Tuesday.
"We hope you continue to hold Brookfield Zoo in high regard and not let the actions of one individual overshadow the longstanding good work of the Chicago Zoological Society," the zoo stated.
Latrice could not be reached for comment, but some people have started a Facebook page claiming to support her in light of the onslaught of criticism she received online for her comment.
jlandau@nydailynews.com
An employee at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo who identified herself as Shana "Poohpooh" Latrice received scorn online for posting she was ‘serving these rude ass white people.”
Complaining about “these rude ass white people" got her fired.
A young black employee at a Chicago zoo was fired after she took to Facebook to complain about customers at a concession stand whom she referred to as "rude ass white people," a spokeswoman for the Brookfield Zoo told the Daily News.
The employee named Shana "Poohpooh" Latrice posted a picture of herself in uniform on her Facebook page Monday, which has since been deactivated. In her caption, she wrote "Wassup y'all? At work serving these rude ass white people."
But unfortunately for the frustrated employee the post was shared multiple times on social media and is making the rounds across the Internet.
The zoo began getting an onslaught of complaints from angry customers, some of whom threatened not to come back, prompting the animal facility to respond.
We have zero tolerance for these kinds of divisive behaviors.
Zoo spokeswoman Sondra Katzen said Latrice, who worked at a refreshment stand for the company's Guest Services Department, was terminated Tuesday morning. She did not know how long she had been employed at Brookfield.
On Tuesday morning the Brookfield Zoo released a statement on its Facebook page calling her action's unacceptable.
RAYMOND BOYD/GETTY IMAGES
The Brookfield Zoo said the comment was ‘unacceptable’ and terminated the employee the next day.
"This employee's statements in social media are in violation of our policies and do not reflect our institution's values," the statement read. "We have zero tolerance for these kinds of divisive behaviors."
The organization added they took "prompt action to remedy the situation" Tuesday.
"We hope you continue to hold Brookfield Zoo in high regard and not let the actions of one individual overshadow the longstanding good work of the Chicago Zoological Society," the zoo stated.
Latrice could not be reached for comment, but some people have started a Facebook page claiming to support her in light of the onslaught of criticism she received online for her comment.
jlandau@nydailynews.com
