Tue Dec 09 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Cinnabon Fires Employee After Racist Tirade Targeting Muslim Customers
Ashwaubenon, WI – A Cinnabon employee at the Bay Park Mall in Ashwaubenon has been fired after a video surfaced showing her making racist and Islamophobic comments towards a pair of Black Somali Muslim customers. The incident, which occurred on December 5th, has sparked outrage and condemnation online.
According to Sabrina Osman, who posted the video to TikTok and organized a GoFundMe campaign for her cousin, Farhia Ahmed, and brother-in-law, the couple experienced a hostile atmosphere from the moment they approached the counter. When they requested extra caramel on their order, the employee allegedly made an insulting remark about Ahmed’s hijab, prompting Ahmed to begin recording.
The video, which has been widely circulated, shows the employee using a racial slur and declaring, “I am a racist, and I’ll say that to the whole entire world,” while displaying two middle fingers. Osman stated that Ahmed has been deeply traumatized by the experience.
Cinnabon swiftly responded to the incident, releasing a statement calling the employee’s behavior “completely unacceptable.” They confirmed that the employee had been “immediately terminated” by the franchise owner. “Their actions and statements are completely unacceptable and in no way reflect the values of Cinnabon, our franchisees, or the welcoming environment we expect for every guest and team member,” the statement read.
The incident comes amidst a backdrop of increasing anti-Somali rhetoric, particularly following recent comments made by President Donald Trump, who referred to Somali immigrants in Minnesota as “garbage” and accused them of defrauding the state.
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee has condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “dangerous and dehumanizing.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a statement welcoming the firing of the Cinnabon employee, but also highlighting the broader climate of anti-Black and anti-Somali racism. “The fact that this employee felt comfortable calling a Black couple the n-word on camera is a sign of how acceptable anti-Black and anti-Somali racism has become,” the statement read, urging political leaders to refrain from promoting hatred.
The Trump administration has also faced criticism for its immigration policies targeting Somali refugees, including threats to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program and a recent halt on immigration applications from Somalia.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Muslim and Black communities in the United States and the need for continued efforts to combat racism and Islamophobia.
First Piper 