Woman Kicked Out Of Family Restaurant Over ‘Inappropriate’ Outfit, Says Her Race Played A Role…

Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in August 2021, amid a nationwide conversation about race and racial justice in America.

Aireal Bonner stated that she was “rudely mistreated” by a Birmingham restaurant, and that she was kicked her out of the establishment over her attire. She stated that she doubted that her clothing was the real reason she was kicked out.
She was told to leave Southern Kitchen & Bar in Uptown after she refused to cover her crocheted top – which the restaurant maintained was a “bikini top” that violates its dress code – with a shirt.

In a video Bonner posted on Facebook, when she asked where the dress code notice was, the manager told her that the restaurant’s dress code doesn’t have to be posted because the restaurant is a private business.

She was offered a t-shirt by another manager, but she refused to put it on. She was then asked to leave, with the manager threatening to call police if she did not exit the premises.

Bonner said in her Facebook post: “I was threatened with police action simply because I wanted to sit and eat in an outfit that I felt comfortable and happy in. There was no customer complaint that prompted the situation. This was purely the way that the ‘owner’ chose to run his business.”

Bonner later claimed that she doubted her clothing was the reason she was kicked out.