KFC is looking into allegations that an employee in Jackson, Miss. asked a three-year-old girl to leave the restaurant because her facial injuries were disturbing other customers.
The allegations surfaced Thursday on Victoria's Victories, a Facebook page following Victoria Wilcher's recovery from a pit bull attack that she suffered in April.
A photo showing Victoria wearing cartoon-decorated eye patch and smiling shyly, was posted by the page administrator with a message reading, "Does this look scary to you? Last week at KFC in [Jackson] this precious face was asked to leave because her face scared the other diners."
An apology by KFC was posted the very next morning.
"Please accept our sincere apologies while we try to investigate this incident," KFC commented on the photo. The company also added that the restaurant has "zero tolerance for any kind of disrespectful behaviour by our team member."
"As soon as we were notified of this report on Friday, we immediately began an investigation, as this kind of hurtful and disrespectful action would not be tolerated by KFC," spokesman Rick Maynard wrote Sunday in an email to The Associated Press. "Regardless of the outcome of our investigation, we have apologized to Victoria's family and are committed to assisting them. The company is making a $30,000 donation to assist with her medical bills. The entire KFC family is behind Victoria."
Victoria's grandmother Kelly Mullins said they had just visited the doctor and stopped by at KFC for a meal, where she ordered mashed potatoes for Victoria so she could swallow easily without chewing.
Mulling says they were approached by an employee who said, "We have to ask you to leave because her face is disrupting our customers," Mulling told WAPT-TV.
The incident has affected Victoria and she feels embarrassed by her appearance — something that was not the case before.
Victoria was attacked by pit bulls at her grandfather's home in early April. The dogs broke her nose, jaws, cheekbones and right eye socket; the right side of her face is paralysed and she has lost that eye, according to the Facebook page. Her bottom jaw was reconstructed but she needs a feeding tube and must grow more bone in her face before more surgery is possible, the page further states.
Photo Credit: Victoria's Victories, Facebook Page
