Actor/Comedian Chris Jarell is in town filming a movie and believes he was racially discriminated against at a popular Buffalo restaurant/bar. FULL STORY: https://www.wkbw.com/news/actor-says-he-was-kicked-out-of-popular-buffalo-restaurant-for-wearing-a-hoodie
Posted by 7 Eyewitness News WKBW on Tuesday, June 26, 2018
A Black actor believes he was racially profiled at a restaurant/bar in downtown Buffalo, New York.
27-year-old Chris Jarell who played Freddy in “Jack of the Red Hearts” was thrown out of New York bar “Bada Bing” on Friday for reportedly wearing a hoodie.
Jarell is currently filming an independent film in Buffalo and said it was his first time visiting the city. He decided to grab a bite to eat at the restaurant and said he was told to leave the establishment because of his attire. However, the actor was appalled to see the bar allowing a white patron wearing a similar outfit.
“As I leave I see a white guy come in with like the same outfit on that I have,” Jarell told WKBW. “I asked ‘what’s the difference between me and him’ and they began making excuses.”
Jarell said the restaurant told him at one point that the white guy was allegedly “the owner’s cousin.”
Bada Bing’s restaurant manager told the news station that the actor chose to leave the bar and they don’t allow any customers dressed in flip-flops or hoodies to enter the building past 7 p.m.
The company then released the following statement on their Twitter account after deleting the first post from their page, “The Ownership of Bada Bing has been apprised of the allegations made against one of our employees and we have begun a full investigation into the facts surrounding the incident. We take these allegations very seriously and if proven, we will take all steps necessary to deal with the issue. We value all of our customers and we want the community to know, that we in no way condone racial or ethnic bias of any kind.”
Jarell added that the “Bada Bing” staff was extremely rude to him. “I told the manager if I put this on social media, it’s not a good look man. You’re treating somebody who’s coming in town for the first time like they’ve done something wrong. He was like f’ you and your social media. Don’t come back here. I don’t care who you are.”
The manager said he feels “terrible” and doesn’t want people to think he’s a “racist.”
“I think both sides caused the situation,” the manager added.
Other “Bada Bing” locations have reached out to the “Brotherly Love” actor since posting the incident on his social media page. He expressed, “That’s why you can’t judge every book by its cover.”
