Music icon Aretha Franklin stormed out of a fast food restaurant in Canada after a nasty encounter with a rude employee.
The Queen of Soul stopped at the Johnny Rockets restaurant in Niagara Falls after performing a sold-out concert in nearby Lewiston, New York and took a seat at an empty booth as she waited for her hamburger and Cherry Coke take out order to be prepared. However, she was soon confronted by a young waitress who demanded Franklin move from the booth as tables were reserved for eat-in customers only, even though it wasn’t busy.
The singer, who was with her nephew at the time, decided she would have her burger at the restaurant instead, but the server insisted that was not allowed as she had already placed her order for takeout.The woman then ordered Franklin to stand outside the restaurant (which was located inside a food court), but the veteran star had had enough.
Franklin tells the New York Daily News,
“I got up and walked out. I said, ‘You should eat it yourself and you pay for it.’ “My nephew mentioned to her who I was and she said she didn’t care who I was.”
The 72 year old music legend revealed she was disgusted by the waitress’ behavior and insists she needs to be “spoken to” about her attitude, saying,
“She’s a public servant and she shouldn’t speak that way to anybody, celebrities or non-celebrities.”
However, Franklin claims the encounter won’t put her off eating at Johnny Rockets again. She adds, “I like Johnny Rockets and I’ll go on liking Johnny Rockets, but not that one.”
A spokesperson for the franchise owner has since issued a public apology to Franklin for the actions of “a new and very young employee”.
