Jonathan Butler, a South African musician, said he was racially profiled at an American restaurant in Napa Valley. On August 15, the 60-year-old actor shared his experience with the manager of the restaurant St. Helena’s Goose and Gander. In the nearly five-minute video, Butler recounted how the restaurant manager followed him and his friends outside the restaurant to see if they had tipped the waiter who served them their meals. The restaurant has already apologized to the musician and his friends, saying the event “never should have happened”.
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Jonathan Butler described his bad experience at a Napa Valley restaurant.
Butler described the incident on Instagram, saying the manager of the Goose and Gander restaurant followed him and his party to their vehicle after they had a “wonderful dinner”, paid the bill and the waiter and left the restaurant. When the singer asked the manager if there was a problem, the worker asked if he was in charge of the server.
“I’ve never been followed out of a restaurant before.” He was disrespectful to me and everyone else who ate at the restaurant. I don’t believe he would do that to a white man, but he was comfortable doing it to me to see if we were taking care of the server. That being said, the disrespect is really troubling to me that in Napa Valley, of all locations, where jazz restaurants attract visitors from all over the world, this person decided to come up to my vehicle to see if I took care of the waiter.”
Butler added that he tipped the waitress generously and entered the restaurant to confront the manager, who told him he didn’t want to upset anyone. When the musician challenged him, the manager showed little sympathy, reminding him of his days in South Africa.
“I am deeply hurt. This needs to stop. Everyone should be treated with dignity and kindness. We must reject the idea that he has the right to follow me to my vehicle just because of the color of my skin and the way I dress. The restaurant came highly recommended and I am furious that he (the host) would trash my friend who suggested this ‘wonderful restaurant’.”
Following the release of Jonathan’s video, the restaurant issued a public apology, indicating that it would hire outside experts for “sensitivity training”.
All about Jonathan Butler
Jonathan Butler was born on October 10, 1961 in Cape Town, South Africa and is the first non-white singer to have his songs aired on a radio station there, according to his official website. Butler’s passion for music began at a young age when his father gave him a handmade single-string guitar. According to his website, he won a local talent contest and went on a South African tour with a musical ensemble. Jonathan also played at major concerts that were open exclusively to whites.
Butler rose to fame after being signed to British producer Clive Caulder’s label, Jive Records, at the age of 13. His debut hit, I’ll Be Home, won the South African equivalent of the Grammys. He received Grammy nominations for his pop hit Lies, making him one of pop music’s most influential artists. On the personal front, Jonathan Butler married Barenese Beaton in 1982, but has since divorced and is seeing another lady, according to his Instagram name. Ezra Butler, Jodie Butler and Randy Butler are the three children of this couple.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education