Woman sues BBQ chain for racism, citing SC law. Chain is known for discriminatory practices.

A South Carolina female has lodged a legal suit against a barbecue chain reportedly notorious for its discriminatory beliefs and practices. According to The Associated Press News, an unnamed Black woman has filed a lawsuit saying that Jeff Harrison, manager of Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ in Columbia, South Carolina, compelled her into a sexual relationship after guaranteeing her a raise, which he paid. AP News states that the woman left her job at Piggie Park BBQ after Harrison became increasingly more “threatening” and “irate” when she decided to decline additional sexual advances.



Recently, Damien Wooden, who is also a former Black employee at Piggie Park BBQ, submitted a lawsuit accusing Harrison of leaving racial slurs and menacing messages on a voicemail after Wooden asked him to stop harassing the Black woman, AP News reports.

In a statement to ABC Columbia News, Lloyd Bessinger, president of Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ, said the business “does not condone or accept any sexual or racial behavior.” “When I heard of Mr. Harrison’s conduct I fired him immediately. We are a local family business that supports the community by providing jobs & great BBQ for 60 years,” Bessinger declared to ABC Columbia News.

As reported by AP News, Piggie Park has a long history of racism. The outlet reports that in 1964, a waitress at Piggie Park declined to serve two Black customers. Piggie Park’s owner, Maurice Bessinger supported not serving the Black customers. A lawsuit was filed, and a federal judge ruled against Bessinger.

AP News adds that the U.S. The Supreme Court described Bessinger’s argument of religious freedom as “patently frivolous.”



Moreover, in 2000, at the peak of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor protests, Bessinger was against South Carolina law demanding the removal of the Confederate flag from the state capitol, according to AP.

The legal action by the unnamed woman is asserting careless supervision and accusing Harrison of “deliberately inflicting emotional distress, assault and battery.”

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