Dominique Wilkins Says He Faced Racism At Restaurant

NBA Corridor of Famer Dominique Wilkins says he was turned away from a restaurant in Buckhead over his race.

The Atlanta Hawks legend claims it occurred at French bistro Le Bilboquet and that this was the primary time he’d skilled racism at a restaurant.

“In my a few years on the earth, I’ve eaten at a few of the best eating places on the earth, however by no means have I felt prejudice or been turned away due to the colour of my pores and skin, till at present,” he tweeted.

The restaurant claims Wilkins was turned away due to the best way he was dressed and responded through Twitter.

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“We do our greatest to accommodate all of our friends. We’ve a ‘enterprise informal’ gown code which incorporates denims & sneakers however prohibits athletic clothes together with sweat pants & tops. The definition of “informal” is ever evolving, we attempt to take care of our coverage necessities every day,” the restaurant stated in a Tweet that has since been deleted, 11Alive reports.

Responses to the restaurant’s tweet confirmed pictures of different diners sporting athletic apparel with some saying Wilkins’ expertise just isn’t the one one involving alleged racism. In a follow-up tweet, Wilkins stated when he first arrived on the restaurant he was advised there have been no tables obtainable. Subsequently, he says they advised him he was “not dressed fashionably sufficient.”

“I’d have been superb in the event that they stated simply no tables,” Wilkins tweeted. However they appeared me up and down earlier than that after which stated that and so as to add insult, talked about how my garments weren’t applicable after I was sporting designer informal pants and a shirt.”

On Sunday morning (Could 23), the restaurant once more responded, saying the gown code coverage just isn’t meant to offend anybody and that they welcome an open dialogue with him.

“Our gown code coverage just isn’t meant to offend anybody however fairly present our friends with an appropriate clothes information,” the assertion learn. “We apologize for the confusion it could have brought on. Our upscale eating expertise and our model’s tradition is made up of a number of components which incorporates our music, our meals and our patrons’ apparel. We’re very sorry that our try to take care of consistency in our gown code coverage brought on Mr. Wilkins to really feel undesirable in our restaurant as that was not our intention and would welcome an open dialogue with him.”

On Sunday, the restaurant’s supervisor spoke with 11Alive relating to the incident.

“We by no means need anybody to really feel, on this neighborhood, discriminated in opposition to due to something, particularly, the colour of their pores and skin,” Basic Supervisor Mark Hoefer stated. “Particularly somebody who’s a pillar of this neighborhood like Mr. Wilkins.”

He added: “We’re fairly comfy in our minimal customary which is not any athletic put on, nothing overly revealing.”