A Charlotte grocery store cook has been fired for a comment he made to Gov. Pat McCrory.

The Charlotte Observer reported that an employee of Reid's Fine Foods said he was fired because of a comment he made to the governor Sunday.

Forty-five-year-old Drew Swope had asked McCrory if he could help him, but then said "thanks for nothing" when he realized he was speaking to the governor, with whom he disagrees politically.

McCrory's security detail complained about the comment and owner Tom Coker says he dismissed Swope because the comment was inappropriate to make to any customer.

Swope says he doesn't blame Coker for firing him, acknowledging that his comment was "out of turn."

Swope says McCrory yelled at him after the comment. A gubernatorial spokesman denies that.