Overview
- Following an investigation, Smoothie King said two employees at a franchised Ann Arbor store are no longer with the business after refusing to serve a man wearing a Trump hoodie.
- Video posted by Erika Lindemyer shows staff telling her and her husband they were not comfortable serving them, with one employee saying “Trump discriminates [against] us” and asserting a “right to refuse service.”
- Both the franchise owner and corporate apologized to the customers, pledged continued follow-up, and ordered mandatory retraining for all employees at the location.
- The confrontation circulated widely across TikTok and X via amplification accounts, while a GoFundMe launched by one employee citing harassment and being filmed as a minor was later disabled, according to reports.
- Some outlets named one worker as Janiyah Mishelle/Williams without independent verification as debate continued over refusal of service based on political apparel versus company policy and applicable laws.