A Maryland man is coming forward with allegations of racism after an employee at his local Chick-fil-A labeled his to-go order with the name “Monkeys” instead of his actual name, “Marquise.”


Marquise Vanzego recounts to TODAY.com that on August 23, he went to pick up dinner and placed his order through the drive-thru. As a Black man from La Plata, Maryland, Vanzego was shocked when he heard the name “Monkeys” being called out. It wasn’t until the employee confirmed the order—chicken strips, fries, and an iced tea/lemonade drink for someone in a white van—that he realized the order was meant for him. Vanzego described his reaction as akin to the pain of grief or a breakup: “Your heart has that little sting in it.”


Reflecting on the incident, Vanzego said it made him think of other cases of racial profiling he has heard about in the news. After the incident, he spoke with an on-duty manager who apologized and offered a refund. He later talked to Kevin, a store manager who wasn’t present during the incident. Kevin declined to comment, and we were unable to reach store owner John Flatley.


Vanzego recorded his interactions with the on-duty manager and posted the videos, along with a letter to Chick-fil-A, on Instagram and Facebook, where they garnered significant public attention. While some viewers were supportive, others questioned whether the issue was due to a miscommunication or a malfunctioning drive-thru intercom. Vanzego clarified that there was no intercom involved; he placed his order directly with a young white male employee outside the restaurant.


Following the incident, Vanzego spoke with Flatley, who apologized but stated that the employee, allegedly under 18, would not be terminated. Flatley mentioned that the employee had simply written down the name they heard. (In a similar 2022 incident at a Maryland Starbucks, the employee involved was suspended.)


The marketing director for the La Plata Chick-fil-A location, which is independently franchised, declined to comment and directed inquiries to corporate. The corporate office responded, noting that while the franchisee apologized, the incident did not meet their standards and was unacceptable.


Vanzego has yet to hear back from corporate. He requested to speak directly with the employee who took his order, but his request was declined. He hopes the employee understands the impact of their actions.


While some social media commenters have urged Vanzego to show compassion for the employee, Vanzego acknowledges the employee’s youth but believes accountability is important. “He needs to understand that there are consequences for such actions,” Vanzego says, drawing on lessons he taught his own children about dealing with the consequences of their actions.