McDonald’s apologized after one of its restaurants in China displayed a sign that banned black people from entering.
The fast-food company temporarily shut down a restaurant in Guangzhou after footage of the sign, which said, “We’ve been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant,” made the rounds on social media.
“Immediately upon learning of an unauthorised communication to our guests at a restaurant in Guangzhou, we immediately removed the communication and temporarily closed the restaurant,” McDonald’s said in a statement.
The company added that the sign was “not representative of our inclusive values” and “diversity and inclusion” training was being conducted at the store.
Guangzhou is home to a large African community, but racial tensions with locals have worsened as Chinese officials have issued warnings that imported cases of the coronavirus are on the rise, according to CNN.
@McDonalds this is what is happening your restaurants In China, black pple notified not to enter. pic.twitter.com/0BPM7XjkLX
— IAN Ndahagire Mutamb (@mmian8000) April 11, 2020
Community leaders told BBC that hundreds of Africans in Guangzhou had been evicted from hotels and apartments amid internet rumors that the coronavirus was spreading among the African community.
The U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou recently advised African Americans to avoid the city.
