Overview
- Cellphone footage shows employees telling Erika and Jake Lindemyer they were uncomfortable serving them because of his Trump sweatshirt and directing them to leave.
- Smoothie King said the franchise owner ended the workers’ employment following an investigation, with corporate and the owner issuing apologies to the couple and planning mandatory retraining at the store.
- A staffer later posted videos and a GoFundMe claiming she was filmed without permission and faced online harassment; the fundraiser was subsequently disabled, according to local reporting.
- Former employee Janiyah Mishelle defended refusing service in a statement, saying she felt uncomfortable and was speaking for herself, not the company.
- A Detroit attorney noted private businesses in Michigan may lawfully refuse service based on political viewpoint, while Jake Lindemyer said his family has since received threats.