A white Burger King employee in Faribault, Minnesota, was filmed working a drive-through window in blackface on Halloween , prompting a public response from the fast-food chain and a wave of criticism online. The video, posted to Facebook by a Black customer on October 31, 2026, shows the employee in her uniform and headset with dark makeup covering her face. When asked what she was dressed as, the employee replied, “I’m black today”. The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing millions of views and pushing Burger King to issue a statement saying the matter is being taken “very seriously”.
Trigger Warning: This article discusses racism and blackface, which may be upsetting to some readers.
What Happened at the Drive-Through
The encounter took place at a Burger King location on 7th Street NW in Faribault, according to multiple online reports, though Burger King has not officially confirmed the exact address. The customer, identified as Shavelle Devine, recorded the exchange from her car and later shared it on Facebook.
In the video, Devine asks the employee what she is supposed to be. The employee responds, “I’m just Black today”. Devine then asks whether the employee thought the costume was acceptable. The employee says, “As long as you have a good heart”. When pressed on whether she supports the Black Lives Matter movement, the employee replies, “Well, no, I just wanted to be Black”. Devine then asks, “Do you know the struggles that we go through as Black people?” The employee laughs nervously before saying, “No, yes I do. I mean, no. I don’t. No, I don’t”.
The employee was wearing her Burger King hat and uniform shirt during the exchange, with the dark makeup applied across her face but not on her hands or neck. The video has drawn nearly 190,000 likes on Facebook, with other reports citing more than 11 million views on the platform.
Customer Speaks Out: ‘Completely Unacceptable’
Shavelle Devine shared a statement with PEOPLE describing her reaction to the incident. “I find this behavior completely unacceptable, offensive, and disrespectful,” she said. “African Americans should not have to continuously explain why racism is offensive or why certain actions are unacceptable. We should not have to minimize our feelings, overlook disrespect, or accept racial humiliation for the comfort or amusement of others”.
Devine also said she was concerned by how the situation was handled inside the restaurant. “Rather than recognizing the seriousness and offensiveness of the situation, their reactions seemed more like a joke,” she said. “That response sends a troubling message that racial insensitivity is something to laugh about”.
Burger King’s Statement: ‘We Take the Matter Very Seriously’
Burger King issued a statement to multiple outlets, including TMZ, The Independent, and PEOPLE, on November 1 and 2. The company said:
“We are aware of the video and take the matter very seriously. The Franchisee of this location is addressing the situation with his team, manager, and Team Member to ensure everyone involved understands why this is not acceptable and won’t happen again”.
The statement confirms that the location is franchise-owned and that the franchisee is handling the matter internally. Burger King has not confirmed whether the employee has been fired, suspended, or disciplined in any other way. The company also has not said whether management knew about the employee’s appearance before she began serving customers, or whether any supervisor intervened during her shift.
Fake Termination Tweet Spreads Online
A screenshot of an alleged Burger King tweet circulated widely on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the employee had been “TERMINATED effective immediately” and calling the behavior “RACIST and completely unacceptable”. The post is fake. No such tweet exists on Burger King’s official X account, and the claim of termination has been debunked by multiple reports.
The false tweet added confusion to an already tense situation, with some social media users celebrating a firing that never was officially announced. Burger King’s actual statement focuses on the franchisee “addressing the situation” rather than confirming any specific disciplinary action.
Yelp and Google Reviews Flooded with Backlash
Social media users moved beyond the video itself and began flooding the Yelp and Google review pages for the Faribault Burger King location with negative feedback, many blaming management for allowing the employee to work in blackface.
One Yelp review read: “Inexcusable behavior and management let it happen. I would AVOID any business that condone this kind of behavior. The employees are racist and so is the management that allowed this to happen on the clock, without question. Avoid at all costs”.
Another review said: “Managers allowed white employee to dress with Blackface for Halloween. Terrible and irresponsible. Wanted to share this experience. Hope they are fired and new management is hired for this location. I would suggest spending your money elsewhere less racist”.
A third review questioned: “Why was that lady allowed to work in blackface? She should have been fired not put on the clock. Horrible representation for the company and this area of MN in general. Shame. Do better. We are all neighbors”.
The History Behind Blackface
Blackface refers to the practice of white performers darkening their skin to mimic Black people, a tradition that began in the United States in the early 19th century and was central to minstrel shows. These performances depicted Black people through racist stereotypes, often portraying them as lazy or unintelligent. The Anti-Defamation League states that blackface “perpetuated a range of negative, belittling and demeaning stereotypes about Black people”.
The practice declined during the Civil Rights Movement but has continued to surface in entertainment, schools, and workplaces in the decades since. The employee’s comment that blackface is acceptable “as long as you have a good heart” became a central point of criticism because the history of the practice is not erased by stated intentions.
Social Media Reaction: ‘Why Did They Let Her Work?’
The video drew strong reactions across social media platforms. On Atlanta Black Star’s Facebook page, some users described the employee’s laughter as “nervous laughter,” while others focused on the decision to let her work her shift at all. One comment read: “That suggests that she did it intentionally, for the express purpose of being offensive.” The most common question, according to the outlet, was: “Why did they let her work her shift like this?”.
On X, users also questioned management’s role. “The manager should have told her to go to the restroom and clean that crp off,” one user wrote. Another commented: “How did they even let her work her shift though? Was there no one at the store who would, at a minimum, send her a* home?”.
The customer’s original Facebook caption was also widely shared. “Y’all taking this HALLOWEEN SHT TO[O] FAR NOW,” Devine wrote. “Go wipe that sht off yo face BECKY BEFORE MY BLK A** GET MAD”.
Employee’s Identity and Job Status Remain Unconfirmed
The employee’s name has not been publicly released, and her current employment status with the franchise remains unclear. Burger King’s statement does not address whether she is still working at the location or whether any formal disciplinary process is underway. The franchisee has not issued a separate public statement.
What Burger King Has Not Said
Burger King has not confirmed the exact store location, though multiple reports point to the Faribault restaurant on 7th Street NW. The company also has not explained whether the employee’s appearance was reported to a manager before her shift, whether any supervisor saw her and allowed her to continue working, or what specific steps the franchisee is taking beyond “addressing the situation”. The statement does not mention any new training, policy review, or changes to how franchise locations handle similar incidents.
A Pattern of Racial Controversies at Burger King
This is not the first time Burger King has faced criticism over racial issues. In 2024, a Black woman in Austin, Texas, accused an employee of putting a racial slur on her receipt after she asked for a refund on an incorrect order. In 2019, a Burger King advertisement in New Zealand showing people using oversized chopsticks to eat a “Vietnamese” burger was pulled after being called racist and culturally insensitive. In 2012, a Mary J. Blige commercial for Burger King was pulled early after criticism that it played on stereotypes.
The Faribault incident also follows other blackface controversies in 2026, including a September photo of high school students in Santa Barbara, California, posing in blackface, and a Target Halloween costume that was removed after complaints.
Community Response and Local Coverage
The incident has been covered by local Minnesota outlet ABC 6 News (KAAL-TV) , which first reported Burger King’s statement and noted that the station had reached out to the chain to confirm the location but had not received a reply. The story has since been picked up by national outlets including TMZ, The Independent, PEOPLE, Yahoo, and Atlanta Black Star, as well as entertainment and culture sites like Baller Alert and Hollywood Unlocked.
You May Also Like
View all articles about
Devine told PEOPLE that she wants the incident to be taken seriously, not dismissed as a misunderstanding or a joke. Her statement emphasizes that Black customers should not have to explain why blackface is offensive while simply trying to go about everyday tasks like picking up food.
For more entertainment news and viral moments that matter, stay with VvipTimes as we keep you informed on the stories everyone is talking about.
Leave a Reply