Why Was This Cancer Patient Asked to Leave a Local Restaurant in Indiana?

 

Indianapolis, IN — Rachel Bruno, a woman from Indiana woman who was celebrating the end of a chemotherapy treatment, was recently turned away from a local restaurant called Latitude 360 because of what she was wearing.

33-year-old Rachel was reportedly meeting her family at the restaurant, and she was wearing a knitted cap to cover her bald head. Her hair had fallen out because of her treatments. But upon entering the restaurant, Bruno was told she was in violation of the company’s dress code that prohibits skullcaps, bandanas, brimless hats and stocking caps. She was then asked to leave.

She was so insulted that she posted her experience on Facebook, which went viral and led to coverage on the local news station.

Bruno commented, “…It was publicly humiliating because you feel like you don’t know who all is listening… I was embarrassed to be asked to leave based on a hat.”

Her sister, Alicia, commented, “I was devastated. I was disappointed because at that point, my heart actually hurt for her. Because it’s not her fault that she’s had to deal with cancer a second time. When you try to go outside to have a few moments of enjoyment to try to feel better, and here you are turned away… it’s not fair.”

But the company is very apologetic

An executive with Latitude 360 called Rachel to personally apologize about what he says was an “embarrassing mistake”. He said while employees were following policy, they got it wrong in this case. He then followed up with a public apology that aired on the local television new stations in Indianapolis.

The apology read:

Rachel, I wanted to reach out and sincerely apologize for the way you were treated the other night at our Indianapolis venue. It is unfortunate that our door greeters and managers decided to enforce our dress code under your current condition. They have been spoken to and they know now that in special circumstances like yours that the dress code can be interpreted as to allow special considerations. Please don’t judge our entire company on the actions of a few. We all make poor judgment calls from time to time in our life and a poor judgment call was made with you Rachel. The President of our company and our graphic designer who works 3 doors down from me in Jacksonville have both beat cancer and I realize what they went through. Our company was very supportive and sensitive to their needs and those of their families. Our company has supported many many charitable organizations from cancer to autism to combat veterans. If there is anything I can do to make you feel better, don’t hesitate to call me.

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