Former Burleigh Heads restaurant called out for xenophobic rants

A Queensland restaurant owner landed himself in hot water after xenophobic rants targeted Brazilian customers.

The Gold Coast operator is accused of making “personal attacks” against Brazilian diners who he labelled the “worst customers”.

The owner of the Beleeza Food House seemed to lose his temper while responding to criticism, after a potential customer asked about the restaurant.

The attacks were made public via screenshots of the rants on a Brazilian Facebook forum.

“(People) made a post asking about the Beleza restaurant and the owner decided to comment,” the person who posted the screenshots explained.

“It was a show of xenophobia, personal attacks and lack of self-criticism.

“Some people commented negative feedback and the owner couldn’t handle it.”

While the restaurant is now closed, restaurant owner ben Hines has been accused of making statements including, “If drugs were sold at Beleza it wouldn’t be shut from bankruptcy would it, with all the Brazilians that love drugs.

“It would have to be open 24/7 to keep up with demand.”

Another comment read: “Brazilians are the worst customers.”

The rants go on:

“ … I realise Brazillian (sic) really do not like each other, they just use each other to get to the next level (then) they are disposable.”

“How much money did you send to Brazil during the pandemic to feed poor people that your Brazilian government abandoned.”

When asked to comment by the Courier Mail, the former Burleigh Heads restaurant owner responded: “What are you talking about? Australians love drugs just as much if not more.

Are you doing a story on that?”

Mr Hines has a history of volatility towards customers.

7th July 2021