On March 2, Columbus, Ohio realtor Stephanie Lovins dined at Cazuelas Mexican Cantina, but instead of leaving a generous tip, she left something far uglier: a racist message. Scrawled on her receipt, Lovins wrote “I hope Trump deports you!!!” and under the tip section? “Zero. You suck.” Classy.
Thinking she could cover her tracks, Lovins scribbled out her name—but a merchant copy of the receipt proved otherwise. Oops.
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Viral Outrage & Internet Sleuthing
It didn’t take long for social media to do what it does best. A fellow restaurant employee, Isabel Nathalie, posted the shocking receipt on Facebook, captioning it:
“Y’all love our food but hate us. Shame on you, Stephanie, for not having the courage to say it with your chest.”
In the comments, Nathalie revealed that the targeted waiter, Ricardo, is a disabled American citizen who works two jobs, seven days a week. The post went viral, and soon, online supporters rallied behind Ricardo, launching a GoFundMe campaign that has already raised over $14,000.
The worst of America right here pic.twitter.com/hUKcEKuKrV
— Kelly D 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@KellDA) March 3, 2025
Lovins’ Desperate Damage Control
Once the backlash hit, Lovins tried to wriggle her way out. In now-deleted social media posts, she claimed her credit card had been stolen, frantically posting on LinkedIn about “scammers and profile hackers.”
But there was just one problem—Cazuelas had security footage of her dining at the restaurant.
Her Facebook account, where she insisted her bank was handling the “fraud,” has since mysteriously disappeared.
Fired and Roasted Online
Meanwhile, internet detectives quickly uncovered Lovins’ employer—real estate giant Century 21. When outraged users reached out, the company wasted no time distancing itself from the scandal.
“We are aware of the situation with the agent in question. Hate has no place within the CENTURY 21 brand, and we are taking this very seriously,” a spokesperson told NBC4. The company confirmed that Lovins is no longer affiliated with them.
But the internet wasn’t done with her yet.
Shortly after her firing, a Facebook Marketplace account allegedly linked to Lovins appeared—offering a dumbbell set for $500. The listing? Bombarded with 6,000+ laughing reactions.
As one commenter perfectly summed it up: “Done fooled around and got deported from her own job.”
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Statement from Cazuelas Mexican Cantina
Cazuelas Mexican Cantina responded to the incident with a firm stance against hate and discrimination. The restaurant released the following statement:
“At Cazuelas Mexican Cantina, we believe in the power of respect, tolerance, and acceptance.
Recently, one of our team members faced an unacceptable situation, and we stand firmly against any form of hate or discrimination. Together, we will continue to create a welcoming space for everyone.
Thank you for your unwavering support!“
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Justice for Ricardo
While Lovins deals with the fallout, support for Ricardo continues to grow. His GoFundMe, titled “Tip Ricardo: Because Hate Has No Place Here,” has received donations from people across the country who want to show him that kindness wins over hate every time.
At the end of the day, one thing is clear: the only person getting “deported” here was Stephanie Lovins—from her job.
