Missouri police are investigating a sign posted in the drive-thru of a local Popeyes warning customers that new management reserves “the right to refuse service to white people.”
The sign was reportedly put up “unbeknownst to the business,” Daily Mail reports. Law enforcement believes it was a prank and did not involve any of the restaurant’s employees.
A restaurant manager says surveillance footage confirms an employee didn’t post the sign.
Still, the restaurant closed on Wednesday following an outcry over the message on social media, various news outlets report.
On the chicken chain’s Facebook page, one person wrote, “What is going on at your store? Please advise, this is utter BS,” Unilad reports. Another said, “Wow is all I can say.”
“I saw it all over Snapchat,” a local customer told Fox 2. “I think it’s kind of immature for someone to put it on there.”
According to the Kansas City Star, police believe it’s possible the sign could be linked to a previous spate of vandalism the restaurant experienced earlier in May. That incident included broken glass windows and “obscene” messages painted on the drive-thru window.
On Thursday, Popeyes corporate office released a statement. “We have been made aware of the situation and are investigating the matter immediately,” it reads. “This type of behavior does not align with our brand values and we take such allegations very seriously. The franchise is cooperating with local authorities regarding this ongoing investigation.”
The St. Louis Police Department did not immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment.
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H/T Daily Mail