Crystal Terese GiveSendGo raises over $49,000 as Cinnabon fires employee over alleged racial tirade against Somali customer

Cinnabon Storefront Sign - Source: Getty
Cinnabon fires employee Crystal Terese. Representational image of Cinnabon Storefront Sign - Source: Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Image

Crystal Terese, a Cinnabon employee in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, was reportedly fired after a video depicting an alleged racist tirade against a Somali couple went viral online. However, netizens rallied around Terese as they deemed she had been unfairly dismissed from her job.

On the heels of the incident, her supporters set up a GiveSendGo campaign seeking a little over $109,000. At the time of writing this article, the fundraiser has raised over $49,000.

The fundraising campaign initiated by Tom Hennesy said:

“Hardworking White mom doing her job at Cinnabon. Two Somali customers decide to make her shift hell with intimidation. Instead of banning the offenders and backing their employee, Cinnabon fires Crystal to keep the nons happy.”

The camping added:

“No White person should lose their job for refusing to be harassed by Somalians.”

In an X post, Cinnabon confirmed the employee has been fired: They wrote:

“We’ve seen the disturbing video from the Cinnabon bakery in Ashwaubenon, WI, and we do not condone this behaviour. The franchise owner immediately terminated the former employee. Their actions do not reflect our values or the welcoming experience every guest deserves."

GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Somali couple’s cousin following the alleged Crystal Terese Racial Cinnabon Incident

The video of the incident was posted online by a family member of the Somali couple who were allegedly victims of the racial slurs hurled by Cinnabon employee Crystal Terese. A GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Somali couple’s cousin, Sabrina Osman, alleged the incident occurred at Cinnabon in Bay Park Mall in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.

The GoFundMe alleged that the Somali couple walked into Cinnabon, noting:

“The atmosphere was not welcoming at all because of this worker's facial expression and attitude.”

The couple who allegedly ordered Carmel pecan cinnamon rolls supposedly asked the employee, Crystal Terese, to add more Carmel. The fundraiser added:

“Carmel appeared to be running low, and my cousin asked," Are you running low? " Don't you have any more?”

Crystal Terese allegedly responded, saying:

"You could see me squeezing it through that witch-craft bandana you're wearing on top of your head", basically referring to my cousin's hijab.......”

The fundraiser claimed the response impelled the Somali couple to start recording the employee. The edited video, which has gone viral, raking in over hundreds of thousands of views, shows Crystal Terese hurling the N-word at the customers.

In the video, the man behind the camera can be heard asking Terese,

“Sexualising your body makes you a better person.”

Terese, who noticed the camera, asked the woman:

"Are you recording me?”

Shortly after the woman confirms Terese is being recorded, the fired Cinnabon employee said:

“Do you want me to throw water on you?”

The edited video then jumps to Crystal Therese declaring:

“I am racist, and you are a n-word.”

She added:

"I am racist, and I’ll say it to the entire world. Don't be disrespectful.”

The video has triggered divided reactions online, with some condemning Terese’s actions while others have rallied around her, donating to her campaign. YouTuber Brain Kassenstein wrote:

“This racist called a Somali couple the n-word. What did it get her? She’s made $11,000 so far on Give Send Go from crazy right-wing racist morons. This is the kind of stuff that Trump is breeding.”

Meanwhile, Internet personality Leonarda Jonie, in support of Terese, wrote:

“Seriously. It’s time to ban @Cinnabon. Let them make their money off of the Somalis.”

Crystal Terese’s GiveSendGo Campaign has drawn more donations than the GoFundMe campaign launched by a family member of the Somali couple. At the time of writing this article, the fundraiser for the Somali couple seeking $45,000 has raised over $55.

Edited by IRMA