A real estate agent, Stephanie Lovins, was terminated from her position at Century 21 after leaving an offensive note for a specially-abled waiter at a Mexican restaurant. The message, written on a receipt at Cazuelas Mexican Cantina in Columbus, Ohio, read, “I hope Trump deports you.” Additionally, she left no tip, instead writing, “Zero. You suck.”
Ricardo, the waiter who served Lovins on March 2, is a U.S. citizen working two jobs to support his family. Lovins reportedly became frustrated with the restaurant’s “one coupon per table” policy. After she left, an employee discovered the receipt with the hateful remark and shared a photo online. The image quickly went viral, sparking outrage and calls for her dismissal.
The restaurant expressed strong support for Ricardo, denouncing the offensive note. Fabio Oribo, head of marketing at Cazuelas, told NBC4, “This is just not right.” He emphasized Ricardo’s dedication, adding, “We come here every day to do our job—to serve people and create a welcoming environment. There is no place for hate at Cazuelas.”
Initially, Lovins denied involvement, claiming on social media that her credit card had been lost or stolen. In a Facebook post, she wrote, “My credit card was lost/stolen and someone attempted to use it. Thanks for the notifications! This has been reported through my bank.” She posted a similar message on LinkedIn, stating, “Thank you for the recent notifications about scammers and profile hackers! I recently discovered a missing credit card and an attempted purchase. I appreciate your patience while I manage this situation.”
However, security footage from the restaurant confirmed Lovins was present, leading to her termination. Responding to a Facebook inquiry, Century 21 stated, “The Century 21 brand does not condone acts of discrimination and takes this matter seriously. After investigating, we confirm that the agent in question is no longer affiliated with the brand.”
In an official statement, the company reiterated its stance: “We are aware of the incident involving this agent. Hate has no place within the CENTURY 21 brand. After reviewing the situation and consulting with the respective broker—since all Century 21-affiliated businesses are independently owned and operated—we confirm that this individual is no longer associated with our brand.”
Following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign titled “Tip Ricardo: Because Hate Has No Place Here” was launched to support the waiter. The fundraiser has already raised $11,480. The campaign description highlights Ricardo’s dedication, stating, “Ricardo is a hardworking server at Cazuela’s Bar & Grill in Columbus, Ohio. On the evening of March 2, 2025, he was simply doing his job, providing excellent service. However, after serving an $87 meal, he was left with no tip and a hateful, racist message: ‘ZERO. YOU SUCK. I HOPE TRUMP DEPORTS YOU!!!’”
