A Cinnabon employee has been officially fired after her racist rant against two customers was caught on camera and surged to viral infamy on social media. The Georgia-based cinnamon roll chain has since issued a statement, confirming her employment status with the world. The much-loved bakery company has not yet formally named the worker in question.
Disclaimer: The post includes mentions of a racial slur.
Cinnabon’s statement – Employee fired after racist rant
In response to a post on X flagging the actions of the female employee, who is being referred to a the ‘Cinnabon Karen,’ the US-based chain said she was “immediately terminated” by the franchise owner.
The bakery’s official SNS account disclosed that the incident took place at an independently owned Cinnabon bakery at Bay Park Square mall in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. “We’ve seen the disturbing video,” the company wrote on X, adding, “we do not condone this behaviour.”
In a similar statement issued to The Associated Press on Sunday (US time), the company added, “Their actions and statements are completely unacceptable and in no way reflect the values of Cinnabon, our franchisees, or the welcoming environment we expect for every guest and team member.”
We’ve seen the disturbing video from the Cinnabon bakery in Ashwaubenon, WI, and we do not condone this behavior. The former employee was immediately terminated by the franchise owner. Their actions do not reflect our values or the welcoming experience every guest deserves.
— Cinnabon (@Cinnabon) December 6, 2025
Racist Cinnabon employee’s TikTok goes viral – What happened
A video, originally shared on TikTok and then amplified across other platforms as well, captured a white, female employee’s outburst directed at a couple. She continued cursing at them, including a hijab-wearing woman, while still standing behind the Cinnabon bakery counter.
Although how the altercation started is not captured in the video, the TikTok user claimed the Cinnabon worker hit out against the couple as they asked for more caramel on a cinnamon roll.
User @dailypaypis posted the video on TikTok, which also flashed the following text: “Guys pls share this r@cist Karen! My cousin is traumatised! She started disrespecting her hijab after she asked more more Carmel because she hardly put any…” The video reportedly also carried the caption, suggesting the employee said, “you could see me squeezing it through that witch craft bandanah you’re wearing on the top of your head (basically referring to my hijab……),” as per NBC News.
The former Cinnabon employee was seen “proudly harassing” the couple, which, according to an online fundraising campaign launched to support the customers described them as a “black Somali Muslim couple.”
At one point, she’s heard speaking out the N-word in her expletive-laden rant. “I am racist and I’ll say it to the whole entire world. Don’t be disrespectful,” the employee said.
The man on the other side of the camera questioned, “You’re talking about respect? You are fired from this place motherf**er. You’re not going to working here.”
Early on in the clip, as the Wisconsin worker realised that the couple was recording her actions on camera, she said brazenly, “Do you want me to throw water on you?”
When the couple asked her what was wrong with her, she retaliated in a deeply disturbing fashion. “What the f**k is wrong with you? You f***ing ugly b**ch. Get the f**k out of my face.”
Mid-way through her rant, she went on to flash the middle finger with both her hands, while maintaining a nonchalant smile on her face.
Clashing fundraisers for fired Cinnabon employee and Somali couple
As highlighted in The Associated Press’ report, fundraising campaigns were launched in support of both the impacted Somali couple and the Cinnabon worker pictured in the viral video. The latter was purportedly raised to financially back the woman as the company fired her.
It appears to have already raised tens of thousands of US dollars. Moreover, the campaign seems to have been started on a Christian crowdfunding platform that had previously also supported a Minnesota woman who admitted to calling a Black child a slur just months ago.
