This article is being republished as it originally gained attention in August 2021. Aireal Bonner reported that she experienced “rude mistreatment” at a Birmingham restaurant, where she was expelled due to her attire. She expressed skepticism that her clothing was the true reason for her removal. Bonner was asked to leave Southern Kitchen & Bar in Uptown after she declined to cover her crocheted top, which the restaurant classified as a “bikini top” in violation of its dress code.
In a video shared on Facebook, when Bonner inquired about the location of the dress code notice, the manager informed her that such a notice was unnecessary since the establishment is a private business.
Another manager offered her a t-shirt, which she declined to wear. Subsequently, she was instructed to leave, with the manager warning that police would be called if she did not vacate the premises. In her Facebook post, Bonner stated, “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 reiterated her belief that her clothing was merely a pretext for her expulsion. She told CBS 42, “My clothing was an excuse to not have me dine there. I think the biggest issue with my appearance is that I look very Afro-centric. My hair is of Afro texture. The way that I dress is Afro-centric. So I believe that because they can’t directly say things like ‘We don’t like the color of your skin, we don’t like the way that your hair looks,’ my clothing was just used as an excuse.”
In response, Southern Kitchen and Bar issued a statement on its Facebook page asserting that Bonner’s top did not align with their appropriate attire policy.The restaurant issued an apology, acknowledging that their “effort to adhere to company policy was poorly timed,” as the staff chose to address the issue only after the patron had taken her seat, rather than upon her arrival at the venue.
“We regret the disruption to Ms. Bonner’s dining experience and recognize that such an incident can cause discomfort,” the statement indicated, further noting that the establishment is “implementing stricter protocols” for policy enforcement, which includes addressing concerns at the entrance.
“We are committed to ensuring that our restaurant remains a welcoming environment for all,” the establishment affirmed.
Ms. Bonner declined to accept the apology and urged the public to inundate the business with negative reviews, resulting in the removal of the restaurant’s Yelp page.
Photo Credit: HoodzoneProductions
“The so-called ‘apology’ regarding the TIMING of my confrontation over a non-existent dress code is, as I previously stated, utterly LAUGHABLE,” Bonner expressed.
The organization Alabama Rally Against Injustice has organized a sit-in protest at the restaurant for Saturday, asserting that images of other women in similar attire were featured on the restaurant’s social media accounts.
While private businesses possess the authority to manage their operations as they deem appropriate, any form of discrimination will not be accepted,” the group stated.
