Aireal Bonner found herself at the center of a controversy after claiming she was kicked out of a family restaurant in Birmingham because of her outfit, though she believes the real issue had more to do with her race. The incident took place at Southern Kitchen & Bar in Uptown, where Bonner said she was “rudely mistreated” and made to leave the restaurant. According to Bonner, staff told her she had violated the dress code by wearing a crocheted top, which they referred to as a “bikini top.” However, Bonner believes the situation was less about what she wore and more about how she looked.
In her Facebook post about the encounter, Bonner explained that she was approached after sitting down to eat, and the staff asked her to cover her top with a shirt. When she refused, another manager offered her a t-shirt, but she declined to wear it. At that point, she was told to leave, and management threatened to call the police if she did not exit the premises immediately. Bonner asked where the restaurant’s dress code was posted, but the manager told her it did not need to be displayed because Southern Kitchen & Bar is a private business. She argued that there had been no customer complaints about her outfit and insisted the decision to remove her was made solely by the management. Bonner felt targeted and humiliated by the experience.
She later told CBS 42 that her clothing was just an excuse to deny her service. She believes the real issue was her Afro-centric appearance, including her natural hair and cultural style of dress. Bonner stated that she thought the restaurant staff could not directly say they disliked the color of her skin or the way she looked, so they used her outfit as justification for their actions. In response to the backlash that followed Bonner’s video and social media posts, Southern Kitchen & Bar released a statement on its Facebook page. They defended their policy, saying Bonner’s top did not align with their guidelines for appropriate attire.
However, they acknowledged the confrontation was poorly timed. The restaurant admitted that staff should have addressed the issue when Bonner first entered the establishment, rather than waiting until she was seated and ready to order. The restaurant apologized for interrupting her meal and said they understood how that could make anyone feel uncomfortable.
They also announced plans to create stricter policies for enforcing their dress code, including speaking to guests about any concerns at the door instead of after they are seated. The statement emphasized that the restaurant was committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome. Despite the apology, Bonner was not satisfied. She dismissed the restaurant’s explanation as “laughable” and called on her supporters to leave negative reviews online. As a result, the restaurant’s Yelp page was overwhelmed with comments and was eventually taken down. Bonner maintained her stance that the so-called apology missed the point entirely, focusing only on the timing rather than the deeper issue she believed was at play.
Meanwhile, the group Alabama Rally Against Injustice stepped in to support Bonner. The organization announced plans for a sit-in protest at Southern Kitchen & Bar, arguing that discrimination was involved in how Bonner was treated. They pointed out that the restaurant’s social media pages featured photos of other women wearing outfits similar to Bonner’s, yet they were not asked to leave. The group emphasized that although private businesses have the right to enforce their policies, discrimination in any form would not be tolerated. Bonner’s story has reignited discussions about racial profiling and how it can manifest in subtle ways, such as enforcing rules inconsistently based on appearance. What was meant to be a simple night out for dinner turned into an experience that Bonner says left her feeling disrespected and targeted. The controversy remains a reminder of the challenges many people of color still face when it comes to fairness and equal treatment in public spaces.
