Bondi café apologises after racism allegation

A café in Bondi has apologised to a barista who claims he was sacked for being black.

Ayokunle 'Ayo' Oluwalana from London had been working in Bondi at XS Espresso, but was let go by his manager because "locals are a bit racist".

"It was going well and no-one complained whatsoever and then today after my shift … he [the manager] pulls me over to the side and he's just like, 'Ayo we've been having some complaints recently about your coffee and we are going to have to let you go'," Oluwalana wrote in an Instagram post.

"I was very surprised given I have only heard good things and I have only got compliments about it.

"Then he goes, 'Well you know how Bondi is, the locals are a bit racist', so I am like, 'Oh so that's the real reason', and he's like, 'Yeah, they like their coffee made by the people that are there already, by the barista that's there already', who's a white guy,".

XS Espresso said it would retrain its staff on anti-discrimination policies.

"Our foremost concern was towards the gentleman who had been mistreated by a manager at our Bondi location," the café chain said in a statement.

"We are terribly remorseful for the treatment he received.

"The individual who was involved will experience appropriate consequences and their fate at the company is yet to be determined.

"We want to apologise for what occurred yesterday — to Ayo especially; to those who have experienced racism and to anyone who has messaged us with concerns."

Sheridan Randall, 22^nd June 2020