Bondi café manager is sacked after telling black barista he was fired because the 'locals are a bit racist'
- Ayo Oluwalana was sacked from XS Espresso Cafe in Bondi, Sydney, last week
- The journalism graduate from London claimed it was because of skin colour
- Oluwalana claimed the manager said locals preferred coffee from a 'white guy'
- XS Espresso announced the manager of Bondi store has now been fired
A Sydney cafe chain has sacked its manager who allegedly fired a black barista because of the colour of his skin.
Ayo Oluwalana, a journalism graduate from London, sparked a media storm when he was let go from XS Espresso in Bondi.
Mr Oluwalana claims the manager told him that the locals were 'a bit racist' and preferred to be served by the other barista 'who's a white guy'.
XS Espresso announced this week that the manager, who is also a person of colour, no longer works for the company.
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Ayo Oluwalana (pictured), who came to Australia from the UK, said he was working at the XS Espresso Cafe in Bondi, Sydney on Thursday when the manager told him he was fired
XS Espresso announced this week the manager, who is a person of colour, no longer works for the company
'XS Espresso has a ZERO racism tolerance. We have not taken this matter lightly,' the company said.
'The store is currently under the management of Head Office.
'Ayokunle has been offered further employment opportunities within XS and the offer stills stands during his remaining time in the country, as his VISA expires in November.'
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Mr Oluwalana was fired from the job on Thursday last week after working just five shifts.
In his video, he claimed the manager approached him, saying there had been complaints about his coffee.
'I was very surprised, given I have only heard good things and I have only got compliments about it.
Mr Oluwalana said that was 'a bit of a shame,' which the manager responded with the locals of Bondi 'like their coffee a certain way'
'Then he goes, ''Well, you know how Bondi is, the locals are a bit racist.'' so I am like, ''Oh, so that's the real reason?'' And he's like, ''Yeah, they like their coffee made by the people that are there already, by the barista that's there already,'' who's a white guy.'
Mr Oluwalana's video went viral with hundreds showing their support for the sacked barista, prompting the cafe to apologise.
XS Espresso said staff members had received threats and harassment since the post went viral.
Mr Oluwalana thanked everyone who helped him share his story after the company apologised.
'The individual who was involved will experience appropriate consequences and their fate at the company is yet to be determined,' the company said
XS Espresso Cafe released a statement on their Facebook page which was accompanied by a picture with text that read: 'As a brand, we stand in solidarity against systemic racism'
'I wish I could be angry but for some reason, I can't find that switch to be able to turn it on,' he said.
He said he was 'shocked' to see how far his video had gone.
'I'm moving on and I'm happy to put a pin in it, to move on and to not waste any more time on this situation,' he said.
'I am surprisingly not sad or angry, but more so pleased and proud of the response shown, that gives me faith in the world in these current times.'
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