A Houston couple has spoken out after finding a racial slur written on the back of their restaurant receipt, an incident they described as deeply traumatic.
Melanie Mathews and LaToya Harris-Mathews said they discovered the offensive word while dining at a Becks Prime restaurant in the Meyerland neighbourhood of Houston, Texas, on August 16.
The incident prompted the restaurant to dismiss two employees following an internal investigation.
Couple Discovers Racial Slur on Restaurant Receipt
The couple had stopped at the restaurant, where they were regular customers, to get a burger after shopping for a birthday gift.
Harris-Mathews noticed the racial slur, written in red ink, on the back of their check after their meal.
Speaking to KPRC 2 News on Wednesday, she described the experience as traumatising.
“It was very traumatizing for me,” Harris-Mathews said, adding that she cried throughout the journey home.
Mathews said they had seen similar incidents reported elsewhere but never imagined they would experience one themselves.
The couple also said they were the only Black customers in the restaurant at the time.
Employee Allegedly Laughs When Confronted
After discovering the offensive message, the women confronted restaurant staff about what had been written on their receipt.
According to Mathews, an employee admitted to writing the slur and appeared to laugh when questioned about it.
She claimed the worker attempted to dismiss the incident by saying: “This is just something we do in the kitchen.”
The couple said the employee’s response compounded their distress and left them feeling disrespected.
Becks Prime Confirms Dismissal of Two Employees
A spokesperson for Becks Prime described the incident as “deeply troubling” and said the restaurant acted immediately after becoming aware of what had happened.
The company confirmed that the employee responsible was dismissed on the same evening.
According to the spokesperson, the restaurant contacted the couple that night to apologise for the employee’s conduct and inform them that the worker was no longer employed by the organisation.
A second employee was also dismissed following what the company described as an extensive internal review.
However, the restaurant did not disclose further details about the second employee’s involvement.
Restaurant Offers Couple Flowers and Gift Cards
Mathews and Harris-Mathews said a Becks Prime representative contacted them within 15 minutes of their departure from the restaurant.
During the call, the representative reportedly offered them gift cards and flowers as a gesture following the incident.
However, Harris-Mathews said the offer did little to address their concerns and further frustrated them.
“I didn’t ask for a gift,” she said. “I was paying. I’d already paid for my food.”
She added that the restaurant’s treatment of them was unacceptable, particularly given their history as regular customers.
“This is not how you treat customers that are long-time customers that come here and patronize your business,” she said.
Harris-Mathews also described the incident as something that should never be allowed to happen in any establishment.
Civil Rights Attorney Considers Legal Action
The couple have retained civil rights attorney Courtney Vincent to represent them following the incident.
Vincent criticised what happened and said the restaurant had made extensive efforts to limit its potential liability.
“Here we are in 2026 and the worst of the worst of the racial epithets is handed over to the Mathews,” the attorney said.
According to KPRC 2 News, Vincent is considering filing a lawsuit if Becks Prime fails to negotiate in good faith with the couple.
She also called on the restaurant to strengthen its employee screening procedures and improve staff training on race relations.
“This is beyond not appropriate to me,” Vincent added.
