Olive Garden Didn’t Ban American Flag Masks
The Claim
Popular Italian-American restaurant Olive Garden allows its employees to wear Black Lives Matter masks, but has banned American flag masks.
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Emerging story
In late August and early September 2020, users on social media shared the claim, often requesting that people boycott Olive Garden for its ostensible choice.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that the claim is false. On their official Facebook page, Olive Garden responded to the allegation that their employees are allowed to wear BLM masks but not American flag masks by saying: “That is not true. Team members may wear either if they choose to do so.”
While an Olive Garden in Oxford, Alabama did refuse to allow a local group to display any banners or flags, including the American flag, at an October 2011 meeting, the company later issued a public apology for the incident.
In a more recent March 2020 incident, an Olive Garden manager was fired after complying with diners’ racist demands to be seated with a white server.
Despite these incidents, the Olive Garden has not issued any policy about refusing American flag face masks.
