'Stop hangin out': Cincinnati Dunkin' Donuts fires employee for message on homeless woman's cup

Sam Rosenstiel | Cincinnati Enquirer

A downtown Dunkin' Donuts fired an employee who wrote a disparaging message on a homeless woman's cup Thursday, according to the store's owner.

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted and shared through screenshots, a cup from the breakfast chain's location at 125 Court Street reads, “Stop ‘Hangin’ out in-front [sic] of the store. If you have a Full Time job! -management”.

Originally posted by a customer on Instagram, former City Council candidate Brian Garry shared the screenshot on Facebook; user Jeffrey Harris then shared it to the Greater Cincinnati Politics Facebook group.

Mike Benhase, the owner of the Court Street location, confirmed the employee involved was not a manager and no longer works for the company.

"It goes against everything we stand for," Benhase told The Enquirer. "We're just a small family business and we preach to our employees long and hard about the values of respect and dignity."

He also said the woman who received the cup and frequented the location has not been back.

"I feel bad for that person," said Benhase, who runs several other Dunkin' stores in Greater Cincinnati. "I would very much like the chance to reach out to the person and apologize for what happened."

"Dunkin’ Donuts and our franchisees share the goal of creating a welcoming and hospitable environment for all guests," the company said in a statement Friday.