Maria F.
Yelp
Letter sent to the operations manager of HMS Host and management of this restaurant, Mirna Muniz.
I was writing to express to you my deep concern regarding the employment of Michael Robinson. Yesterday at approximately 5:20 pm I, along with several other people at the Campanile bar, were subject to lewd, insulting, and misogynistic comments made by Michael Robinson.
It was regarding Shakira's body during her Superbowl halftime performance.
MR (Michael Robinson)
MR: Looks like she put on some weight!
Me: Yes, she looks good!
MR: No, it looks like she's been eating too much In and Out.
(uncomfortable laughter from the young girl and her father standing next to me)
Me: (attempting to diffuse and shut down this commentary) well, she did marry a Spanish soccer player, she's probably eating a lot
of tapas and paella
MR: No, too much In and Out. J Lo looks better than her and she's older than Shakira!
Shakira is dancing in a way that shows her inner thighs
MR: Look at how the fat jiggles on her thighs!
Me: (stunned, upset and desperate to say something to shut him up) she's had children, Michael, have you?
MR: Yes, I have, in a past life. Have you ever been a bartender?
Me: Yes
MR: then how do you make a xyz (I don't remember what he asked)
Me: I don't know
MR: My wife is fat!!
Mirna, I am offended as a person, as a woman and lastly as a paying customer. I chose Campanile to have a nice time with my travel companion, eat some food and have some drinks before our flight. This behavior is unacceptable on so many levels. My travel companion and I chose to ignore his rudeness from the onset when we asked him what was good on the menu. He responded to our question with, "I've never eaten anything from the menu so I can't tell you." I can roll with that, I know service jobs are difficult and you have to deal with a lot of crap making people appear unfriendly when in fact they may just be tired or overworked.
What I experienced after was incredibly upsetting and will stay with me for a long time. As a person of color myself, I believe in empowering each other and it pains me to have to reach out to you. Though I don't want Mr Robinson to lose his job I do think this presents a huge opportunity for coaching or simply to put him in a role in which he doesn't have to interface with customers.
A positive comment on the experience, Mr. Martin King handled the situation very professionally. He and his partner did their best to ameliorate the problem. Thank you for taking the time to read my email.
I look forward to hearing what corrective action will be taken by Mirna Muniz.