PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — At least two waitresses at Barstool Sansom Street in Center City were fired after they followed through with a customer request to create and display a profane, antisemitic sign inside the bar on Saturday, the business announced on Sunday. Temple University said it identified one of the people involved as a student who has since been suspended.
Video of a waitress holding up the sign inside the bar was widely shared on social media and sparked outrage on Sunday.
“We are saddened, embarrassed, and frustrated by the deplorable actions of a customer and misguided staff acting outside the scope of their duties, which resulted in anti-semitic hate speech last evening at our establishment,” Barstool Sansom Street said in a post on its Instagram page.
“Unfortunately, several employees ignored all of their training and written policies regarding our zero tolerance policy for discrimination and hate. Instead, the employees complied with a customer’s request for a sign in connection with ordering bottle service.”
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy released two videos on social media in response to the viral video.
In the first clip, peppered with expletives, Portnoy expressed anger at what happened and did not mince words when describing the two fired waitresses and the customers.
In the second video, a calmer Portnoy elaborated and said one of the waitresses made the sign without the manager's approval. He also said he spoke with the customers and their families, and they agreed that he would pay for them to go to Auschwitz in Poland.
“And they’re gonna do a tour of the concentration camps and hopefully learn something. And maybe their lives aren’t ruined, and they think twice, and other people will see it’s not just words you’re throwing around. To me, that’s a fair outcome of this event,” Portnoy said.
However, Portnoy later rescinded the offer after he said it became clear that the student was not taking responsibility for his actions.
Portnoy initially identified the customers as Temple students. The university, in a statement from President John Fry, said officials identified one student who was involved, and that person was placed on interim suspension. If other students are identified as participants, they will also face disciplinary action, Fry stated.
“In the strongest terms possible, let me be clear: Antisemitism is abhorrent. It has no place at Temple, and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university,” Fry said.
Officials have not publicly identified the student. The Temple chapter of the fraternity Kappa Delta Rho posted a statement as an Instagram story about the “alleged actions of one of our members," adding they would conduct a full investigation.
“We want to extend our sincere apology to the Jewish community and to anyone who was hurt or offended by this situation. We stand firmly against antisemitism and all forms of hate," the statement said.