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A Maryland man had a shocking and humiliating experience during a routine trip to Chick-fil-A.
Marquise Vanzego, a loyal customer, visited the restaurant on August 23, 2024, to enjoy a meal.
He pulled into the Chick-fil-A drive-thru lane that day to place his order.
At the window, he ordered chicken strips, fries, and an Arnold Palmer, speaking directly to the employee taking his request.
Vanzego remained in his car, unaware that an unsettling experience was about to unfold.
As he waited, an employee suddenly called out a name—but it wasn’t his.
At first, he didn’t think the order was his—until the clerk mentioned his white van, confirming it beyond doubt.
The moment he glanced at the receipt and bag, his heart sank, as if he had just gone through a painful breakup.
“You know that sting you feel in your chest when you break up with someone?” Vanzego told Today. “That’s exactly how I felt.”
He immediately requested to speak with the on-duty manager to make sense of the shocking situation.
Although the manager issued a refund, it did little to ease the emotional impact Vanzego experienced, as this incident went far beyond a simple financial loss.
Following the encounter, he turned to social media, posting videos on Facebook and Instagram, and also sent a letter directly to Chick-fil-A’s headquarters.
People across the U.S. reacted to the news online, sharing a mix of supportive and critical opinions about how the label incident occurred.
Vanzego, however, dismissed the theory that a drive-thru intercom caused the misunderstanding during his social media posts.
He clarified that he had placed his order directly with an employee, not through an intercom system.
Later, during a meeting with the franchise owner, Vanzego learned that a 17-year-old employee was responsible for the labeling error.
The owner reportedly explained that the teen “wrote what he thought he heard” and, while offering another apology, confirmed that the employee would not be terminated.
In an interview with Newsweek, Vanzego acknowledged that the teen needed further professional development. “The employee should still face some form of discipline, despite their age and being in a learning process. My own children have learned to take responsibility for their actions,” he said.
Chick-fil-A’s corporate headquarters also addressed the situation, clarifying that franchise locations operate independently.
“This Chick-fil-A is independently franchised and operated,” the company stated. “The franchise owner has apologized directly to the guest. This situation does not reflect our values and falls short of our standards.”
So, what word on the receipt caused Vanzego such deep distress?
One word: “Monkeys.”
The term carried far more historical weight and emotional pain than the simple meal he had ordered that day.
