A waitress has been praised by bosses and the public for her incredible response to a tech CEO's racist outburst as a racist family in a restaurant in California.
The server quickly scolded customer Michael Lofthouse - who is also the CEO of Silicon Valley IT start-up Solid8 by US media - when he launched into a racist rant at an Asian family at the Bernardus Lodge and Spa’s Lucia restaurant.
You can see the disgusting tirade below (Warning - contains vulgar language):The incident was captured on camera by Jordan Chan, who was dining at the restaurant to celebrate her aunt's birthday with her family.
Chan started recording Lofthouse after he allegedly uttered a racist comment directed at the family.
Then, in the footage, after putting his middle-finger up to Chan and her family, he berated them, saying: "Trump’s going to f**k you! You f**kers need to leave [...] You f***ing Asian piece of s**t."
The video was posted on Chan's Instagram along with the caption:
"This is the face of the man who relentlessly harassed my family and I completely UNPROVOKED, UNWARRANTED, and UNCONSCIONABLE.
"We were celebrating my tita’s birthday, literally just singing happy birthday to her and taking pictures, when this white supremacist starts yelling disgusting racist remarks at us. ('F**k you Asians' 'Go back to whatever f**king Asian country you’re from' 'You don’t belong here').
"It is no coincidence that this man has the audacity to showcase such blatant racism on the 4th of July. White supremacy has a notorious habit of masquerading as patriotism!
"The fact that Donald Trump is our president (i.e. THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD) gives racists a platform and amplifies voices of hate. The surfacing of racists is so prevalent right now, even in such an ethnically/culturally diverse and liberal state like California, because Trump HIMSELF uses his position to incite racial tension and to promote aggression towards POC, foreigners, and immigrants.
"We need change! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE THIS UPCOMING RE-ELECTION. PROTECT ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR AND ETHNIC ORIGIN."
The footage also captured the moment waitress Gennica Cochran jumped to the family's defense, scolding Lofthouse and saying: "You do not talk to a guest like that, you need to leave now - get out of here!"
Lofthouse then stands, puts on his coat, and asks: "Who are these f***ers?"
To which the waitress replied: "They are valued guests."
"Are they? They are valued guests in America?" Lofthouse added.
The CEO was immediately kicked out of the restaurant, as Cochran yelled at him: "Get out now! You are not allowed here ever again."
Speaking to KGO-TV reporter Melanie Woodrow, Cochran said she simply did "what anybody else should or would do in that situation".
"To hear the emotion coming out of my voice, to see my mannerisms, it was unbelievable. It was just something that came over me and I just did what needed to be done," Ms Cochran told
"I’m not a mother, but I felt almost maternal- like this is my family and I will take care of them and I will do whatever I can to protect these people. To have someone hate you just because of the way that you look, that’s beyond me. I don’t understand it.
"It’s not something that I will condone ever again, being silent."
And on social media, praise has poured out for Cochran's inspiring actions:
And per CBS News, vice president of Bernardus Lodge & Spa Sean Damery has since apologized to the Chan family, adding that he is proud of the staff.
And as a means of leaving a "tip" for Cochran, several GoFundMe pages have been set up for the server - with three biggest fundraisers totaling over $32,975.
Lofthouse has since issued a statement to ABC7 News acknowledging his "appalling" actions and apologizing to the Chan family.
"My behavior in the video is appalling. This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments," Lofthouse wrote.
"I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel.
"I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day."
However, the family believes his apology doesn't go far enough to heal the wounds from his actions.
"He’s just saving face. I think he really meant what he said and what he did," Raymond Orosa, a member of the targeted family, told the news network.
"I don’t believe his words because his actions speak louder than the words he’s saying.
"He was full of hate and anger. It’s sad that there are still people that are like that in this world, let alone in this country."
