Woman Kicked Out Of Family Restaurant Over ‘Inappropriate’ Outfit, Says Her Race Played A Role

Aireal Bonner claims she was “rudely mistreated” and kicked out of Birmingham’s Southern Kitchen & Bar over her attire. She was asked to leave after refusing to cover her crocheted top, which the restaurant deemed a “bikini top” violating its dress code.

In a video posted on Facebook, Bonner questioned the lack of a posted dress code. The manager responded that, as a private business, the restaurant wasn’t required to display one. Another manager offered her a t-shirt, but Bonner refused and was told to leave, with the threat of police involvement.

Bonner expressed on Facebook that she felt targeted not for her clothing, but for her Afro-centric appearance, including her hair and style. She believed her attire was just an excuse to remove her.

Southern Kitchen & Bar later apologized, admitting their staff mishandled the situation by addressing it after she had already been seated. They promised stricter protocols but maintained that her top didn’t meet their attire policy.

Bonner rejected the apology and encouraged people to leave negative reviews, causing the restaurant’s Yelp page to be taken down. The Alabama Rally Against Injustice group also scheduled a sit-in protest, arguing that other women wearing similar outfits had been seen on the restaurant’s social media. The group stated that while private businesses can set rules, discrimination wouldn’t be tolerated.