Outrage as couple leaves racist note for waiter at LAX restaurant: 'Trashy people'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A handwritten racist note has ignited controversy online after a server revealed the shocking message left on a receipt by a couple at a Los Angeles restaurant.

Guillermo Ortiz, a waiter at Planet Hollywood in LAX, said that the couple left the offensive note following their meal on March 21, just before the end of his shift. 

The incident, which was reported by ABC7, has drawn widespread attention as Ortiz shared the details of the distressing incident.

LAX restaurant waiter Guillermo Ortiz explains how he found the hate-filled note

In a recent interview with KTLA, Guillermo Ortiz, a waiter at an LAX restaurant, opened up about the disturbing racist note he discovered while working at Planet Hollywood in LAX.

"20 minutes after (they left), I opened the checkbook, and I found the message, and it made me feel bad," he said.

He clarified that he is not Mexican but Puerto Rican and emphasized, "I’m not even Mexican, I’m Puerto Rican, but my wife is Mexican – there’s no right to treat people like that.”

Ortiz recalled that the service had gone smoothly until he brought the check to the table. He sensed something was off, saying, "The way they were looking at me, you can tell when something is not right."

After the couple left, he opened the checkbook and found the racist note in place of a tip. “I’ve been working as a server since 2014, and this is the first time this has happened to me,” Ortiz added.

The couple had already paid in cash and left quickly, not giving Ortiz a chance to confront them. Ortiz said he believed their actions were rooted in racial prejudice, speculating, “Probably ’cause they saw me, they know I’m Hispanic, they thought I’m Mexican or illegal or I don’t know what they’re thinking.”

He also linked the incident to the current political climate, commenting, "This is happening because of what’s happening with President Trump right now. I think that’s the reason people are acting like this."

Despite the hurtful encounter, Ortiz remained proud of his work and his role as a provider for his family. “I’m proud of what I do. I’m a server; that’s the way I support my kids, that’s the way I support my family," he concluded.

According to The Independent, Ortiz reported the incident to management, prompting an internal investigation by the restaurant’s corporate team.

Meanwhile, Planet Hollywood in the Tom Bradley Terminal is scheduled to permanently close on Saturday, leaving Ortiz without a job.

Internet calls out couple who left server a racist note

After news of the incident spread online, many people expressed outrage over the controversial handwritten note left for the LAX restaurant waiter. Numerous users have condemned the unidentified couple for their disrespectful treatment of the server.

One user shared, "Good enough to serve them but, not good enough to leave a tip. KARMA will knock on their door. Be patient."

A second user shared, "Oh wow that couple needs to be educated because Puerto Ricans are American citizens." 

A third user commented, "I hate these people. They are what's wrong with the world." 

Another commented, "Ignorance at its finest!" 

A Facebook user said, "Get the camera footage and let the internet expose who did it."

Another user quipped, "I hope the restaurant has cameras and they put their faces on to the public! They should be embarrassed for being trashy people."

Another wrote, "I can't stand people that can treat someone like that and ruin that persons entire day just to make themselves feel bold."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.