Key Takeaways
- Following a viral video, Love That Olive dismissed an employee for removing customers who supported Donald Trump.
- The owner of Love That Olive, Terri C. issued a formal apology, emphasizing that rude behavior and foul language are unacceptable, regardless of political views.
- Many social media users showed support for Terri C. for handling the situation appropriately and taking responsibility for her employee’s actions.
A “Love That Olive” employee was fired after a viral video showed the worker forcibly removing customers who supported former President Donald Trump.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion about customer service, political views, and respect in public spaces.
Yesterday, an employee of Love That Olive in Maple Grove, MN, kicked Trump supporters out of the store.
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) March 18, 2025
Upon learning about the accident, the owner released a statement apologizing for it and shared the news of firing the employee.
“For everyone that heard about the incident… pic.twitter.com/UanQJFOxV5
In the video, the employee is heard arguing with customers wearing Trump apparel. The employee explicitly stated:
I don’t respect your vote, I don’t respect the shirt—get the f*ck out.
Via Facebook
When the customer (Man) tried to reason, saying, “Does that have to do with anything with what someone wears? I’m wearing a Trump shirt and I’m blue-collar,” the employee responded with a dismissive “Yeah.”
A second customer (Woman) also questioned the employee, saying:
I spend hundreds of dollars a year, you’re kicking me out because I’m a Trump-er?
Via Facebook
The customers, clearly surprised, asked if the employee removed them because of their political views.
The exchange quickly caught the attention of many, leading to widespread criticism online.
Social media users flooded the platform with comments disapproving of the employee’s actions and calling for the business to take accountability for what appeared to be discriminatory behavior.
This public backlash prompted Terri C., the owner of Love That Olive, to respond swiftly. She issued a formal apology for the incident, emphasizing that rude behavior and foul language are unacceptable, no matter the political context.
She also confirmed that the employee involved had been terminated.
In her statement, Terri C. expressed deep regret for the incident, calling it “gut-wrenching,” given her 15 years of hard work in building the store’s reputation.
She also reached out personally to the affected customers, who expressed understanding and were reportedly satisfied with the response.
Terri C., the owner of Love That Olive, shared this heartfelt apology on Facebook:
Following her statement, many people took to social media to express their thoughts. One commenter wrote:
Agree with the owner, no matter your political views it should never be shown in any business. It hurts people and businesses
Via Facebook
Another comment stated:
Terri (owner) did the right thing. But one has to wonder what made this employee even comfortable enough to treat these customers this way. Maybe that’s the general attitude of the establishment and had this not gone viral would there have been any retribution.
Via Facebook
A third commenter noted:
I guess you’ll have to ask any future employees you hire if they have Trump Derangement Syndrome or make sure they know that political views are to be kept private and are not to be mentioned or used against any customer that comes in your store. Sorry this employee caused such a problem for you. Hopefully your customers will understand and in the future be better off with this particular employee being terminated. Good luck to you!
Via Facebook
While the incident sparked a heated debate, it also shed light on the challenges small businesses face in navigating customer relations.
Business owners like Terri C. are responsible for ensuring their employees treat every customer with respect and professionalism, regardless of political affiliation or personal views.
This incident at “Love That Olive” serves as a reminder that the actions of a single employee can reflect on the business as a whole, and swift action is needed to protect a brand’s reputation.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The event occurred at Love That Olive, a local store in Maple Grove, Minnesota, known for its specialty in olive oils and other gourmet products.
