On Sunday, Jypsy Jeyfree was hanging out with a friend at Dumbo Kitchen after wrapping up a photoshoot with Bubi Canal, a NYC based artist, when things took a turn for the racist. The encounter was filmed and later shared on Instagram by Jeyfree.
According to Jeyfree, a confrontation came about when a disgruntled employee approached her group and informed them that the eatery was closing "in the most hateful, disrespectful and rude manner."
The video, which only begins after the two had already begun to exchange words, starts with Jeyfree asking, "Why would you say that?" The employee then responds with: "I'm saying that my manager doesn't like them."
"Your manager doesn't like black people, honey," Jeyfree is heard yelling toward the employees inside the establishment.
The now-fired employee then quipped, "Everybody in here knows that already!" Irritated with the events unfolding, the employee then tries to smack the phone out of Jeyfree's hands.
Shocked and upset over the incident, the model noted in her social media post that the encounter was an example of "true racism at its finest."
"I talked to her in [a] pleasant and respectful tone, pointing out that it's not what you say to people, but how you say it," Jeyfree wrote.
As the video gained traction and shook the Instagram world, Dumbo Kitchen announced the following day that it had fired both the employee and manager that had been on duty Sunday when the altercation occurred.
— Dumbo Kitchen (@dumbokitchen) November 13, 2017
"Hate and Racism will not prevail," the company's statement read. "We pride ourselves on fairness and equality. We are taking legal actions against these individuals immediately."
Speaking with the New York Daily News, Adam Ragib, the owner of the establishment, said the interaction between the former employee and customers "came as an absolute shock."
Ragib later claimed that "there was no truth to the manager being racist."
Despite the owner's attempt at damage control, not everyone was pleased with his response.
— Angie E.Pennyfeather (@TheMBAMoms) November 15, 2017
— MojicaSan (@MojicaSan) November 14, 2017
The restaurant will be hosting a community get-together on Friday in order to speak on the issue and address any concerns locals raise.
