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Carmine’s Hostess Speaks Out: ‘I Would Never Call Anyone a Racial Slur’

October 6, 2021 | 10:37 AM - Updated on June 5, 2022 | 11:28 PM
in CRIME, NEWS
46


The hostess on the left made her first statement since the altercation. Still image taken from Carmine’s surveillance camera footage.

By Carol Tannenhauser

She is known publicly only as “the hostess,” a 24-year-old woman allegedly attacked by three female tourists from Texas on September 16 at Carmine’s restaurant on 91st and Broadway. The altercation involved vaccination cards and claims of a racial slur. The Texans were arrested.

On Tuesday, October 5, they returned to the city for their arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, as their Desk Appearance Tickets had ordered. Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, 44, Sally Rechelle Lewis, 49, and Tyonnie Keshay Rankin, 21, were charged with assault in the third degree, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail, and attempted assault and harassment. All pleaded not guilty. They are due back in court on November 18.

The details of the case have emerged and changed over time, supported by Carmine’s surveillance video footage. The three women had been seated inside the restaurant when they were told that their friends had arrived without vaccination cards. (NYC’s vaccination mandate for indoor dining had gone into full effect earlier that week.)

Carmine’s owner said that the women repeatedly asked for their friends to be seated inside anyway, and were incensed when the staff would not let them sit.

One video clip shows the hostess walking from an indoor area back outside, and the Texans spinning around and following. Once outside, one of the women pushed into the hostess. A brawl ensued.

The hostess suffered a concussion.

Why the altercation started is the question. The defense attorney claims the hostess uttered a racial slur to the Texans.

“The hostess suffered a concussion, extensive bruising and scratches on her face….One defendant allegedly yanked off her necklace, breaking it and leaving a laceration, court papers allege,” according to the New York Post.

The hostess was not at the arraignment — a crime victim is not required to be there by law. But she sent the following statement, through her attorney, to West Side Rag.

On September 16th, I was working as a hostess at Carmine’s. The law requires us to check whether people are vaccinated. I did my job in order to protect my co-workers and the other customers from the possibility of getting the COVID virus. The accusation stating that I said a racial slur is unbelievable. I am a Korean immigrant, I was born in Seoul, Korea. I have the utmost respect for all BIPOC. I would never call anyone a racial slur. People lying about that is even worse than being physically assaulted. I want to make sure that neither myself nor my fellow co-workers are attacked again for trying to protect ourselves and our customers from the COVID virus.

West Side Rag has attempted to contact an attorney for one of the women, but has not heard back.

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46 Comments
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GG
GG
3 years ago

For the last couple of years we have all been told to “Believe All Women” so what do we do here??

Personally, I believe the hostess. I mean, come on!

Since the pandemic started we have seen an alarming rise in unprovoked assaults and worse against Asian Americans in this country. If this was racially motivated it was more likely the other way around.

The idea that the hostess just casually threw out one of the most offensive racial epithets like that is almost laughable. More like some sleazy lawyer was just reaching for straws.

1
Reply
TravelgalNYC
TravelgalNYC
3 years ago
Reply to  GG

If you watch the full video, at the end the Carmine’s manager asks one Texas woman, “What happened?” and the Texas woman replies that the hostess, “Kept moving up on us!” The manager asked again, what exactly happened and the Texas woman says the same thing, “She kept moving up on my friend!” There is NO mention of racial epithet. If the Texas women want to play the race card, then we could say that they bullied and attacked an hostess because she was ‘Asian. Attacks on Asians are also rampant, mostly because the attackers believe Asians are docile and will not fight back or stand up for themselves. They thought wrong here!

0
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Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt
3 years ago
Reply to  GG

The slogan is “Believe women,” not “Believe all women.” It means take women’s claims of sexual harassment and assault seriously. The default should not be “women lie,” which is what it often is right now.
But as has been noted, this case has nothing to do with sexual harassment or assault.

0
Reply
Kate
Kate
3 years ago
Reply to  GG

“For the last couple of years we have all been told to “Believe All Women””

Nope. That was never the slogan. The word “all” was added in by a right-wing smear campaign.

There’s a good article on this topic by the Washington Post titled “‘Believe Women’ was a slogan. ‘Believe All Women’ is a straw man.”

0
Reply
Valerie
Valerie
3 years ago
Reply to  Kate

Yes, that is a must read.

0
Reply
Pete
Pete
3 years ago
Reply to  GG

Idiotic comment. This is probably a 1% incident which does not involve a male. No need for the sexist remark. And I am male

0
Reply
Bob
Bob
3 years ago
Reply to  GG

You’re supposed to believe women if they tell you about sexual abuse or the like. Sex has no role in this story.

No one is saying that if a woman walks up and tells you the moon is made of matzoh, you have to conclude that Apollo 11 was a hoax… because how would you land a spacecraft on a matzoh ball?

0
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Mark Moore
Mark Moore
3 years ago
Reply to  Bob

My grandmother’s matzoh balls? You could have done it. They had their own gravity.

0
Reply
aj
aj
3 years ago
Reply to  Bob

this exact thought came to me, but you articulated it much more eloquently!

0
Reply
Truth and Reason
Truth and Reason
3 years ago

Here’s the thing: She either did or did not call them a slur. But either way, it doesn’t change whether they’re guilty. Stop looking at the shiny object, people.

0
Reply
Frank Grimes
Frank Grimes
3 years ago

If “They called me a name, so I pummeled them” is a valid defense, this country is in serious trouble…..

0
Reply
Sigh
Sigh
3 years ago

I support the hostess and Carmine’s 100%. In fact, I would applaud them if they filed suit against the attackers or their lawyer who made that accusation of the racial slur. As an attorney, you better make sure you get the facts straight before you casually accuse a victim on behalf of your client. As if restaurants and their staff needed any more stress.

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Reply
Marky
Marky
3 years ago

“On Tuesday, October 5, they returned to the city for their arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, as their Desk Appearance Tickets had ordered.”

I guess those that many were too quick to judgement over whether they would appear.

0
Reply
Crankypants
Crankypants
3 years ago
Reply to  Marky

Of course they came back. It’s part of their strategy to claim Victimhood. The countdown to their appearance on Dr Phil begins…
Support Carmine’s and this young woman so obviously being gaslighted.

0
Reply
Marky
Marky
3 years ago
Reply to  Crankypants

First they were accused of planning not to appear for their arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, as their Desk Appearance Tickets had ordered.

Now they are accused of planning for an appearance on Dr. Phil.

0
Reply
aj
aj
3 years ago
Reply to  Marky

thank you for pointing this out

0
Reply
JK
JK
3 years ago

Even if the hostess used a racial slur (which indeed would have been horrible), it still would not have justified this physical attack.

That said – I doubt the claims that a racial slur was used. The hostess’ immediate colleagues were Black and Latinx, and moreover the attackers never even mentioned the racial slur to police or anyone until way after the attack. Sounds like they are trying to make an excuse.

Also – it irks me that BLM immediately did a public protest at Carmine’s with such an unsubstantiated claim. I am with the BLM movement – but this is plain irresponsible.

0
Reply
Don Kedick
Don Kedick
3 years ago
Reply to  JK

Anyone can call themselves a BLM group, but Hank Newsome and his “Greater New York BLM” has no affiliation with the larger BLM network. He refused to abide by their principles and code of ethics, and they’ve formally disavowed any connection with him for years now: https://blacklivesmatter.com/for-immediate-release-statement-by-kailee-scales-managing-director-of-blm-global-network/

0
Reply
Anonymous
Anonymous
3 years ago

ALL lives matter.

0
Reply
Josh
Josh
3 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

If you truly believed that, you wouldn’t have to say it AND you would support BLM because the whole premise is that black lives are shown to not matter as much in American society and BLM’s goal is to get us to the point where black lives matter just as much as white lives. If a house was on fire, should the fire department spray water on every house in the neighborhood, or should they focus on the house which is burning? But reporting with “ALL lives matter” is simply (no longer) thinly veiled racism. So please, either prove that you really mean that all lives matter, or say what you actually mean mean and stop pretending.

0
Reply
blacklikeu
blacklikeu
3 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Josh,
Much ado your writing about nothing.
BLM and YLM and WLM and RLM and…..
You better believe that ALL LIVES MATTER, and it is NOT racist to say so.

0
Reply
Zoe
Zoe
3 years ago
Reply to  blacklikeu

@blacklikeu – I completely agree. You have to make the presupposition that BLM translates as: Black lives are disproportionately profiled, incarcerated and killed by Police . Full Stop. Otherwise the slogan is just plain asinine, but indicative of how polarized we are when we are throwing around the word ” racist” every time someone voices ” where is BLM when in the black communities , blacks are also being victimized? ” THOSE Black lives matter also. It is not a racist statement, necessarily/intrinsically. But BLM’ers and those who support them could argue (and perhaps rightfully so) that such statements diminish the argument that “blacks” aren’t getting the same justice as some other folks.

0
Reply
Josh
Josh
3 years ago
Reply to  blacklikeu

Using All Lives Matter as a response to Black Lives Matter is NOT actually saying that all lives matter. It is an antagonistic statement used to negate the statement that black lives matter. Yes, all lives do matter, but the “All Lives Matter” tagline is not literal. There is a meaning behind it. Think about it – if the Treasury stopped making pennies, and a group started protesting saying “Pennies Matter,” and counterprotesters chanted “No, all coins matter” only in response to “Pennies Matter.” And, had the express purpose of drowning out the calls of the supporters of the penny, would you really believe the counterprotesters were actually being literal and actually believed that pennies mattered as much a nickels, dimes, and quarters? Come on, man. Get off the brainwashed bandwagon and use your common sense. It is one thing to object to rioting, but it is another to reject the turmoil that led to the riots in the first place.

0
Reply
Peter
Peter
3 years ago
Reply to  Josh

What are you so agitated about? An Asian woman was the one attacked. Instead of preaching generalities about BLM (or some impostor of BLM) – which has nothing whatsoever to do with this situation – how about you mention that that one Asian life matters, too?

0
Reply
blacklikeu
blacklikeu
3 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Actually Black Lives Matter is a wonderful slogan.
I just wish that the BLM honchos will try to protect the Black lives in the inner cities of NY, Chicago, and all others.
Seems that Black Lives Matter a lot when it’s a conflict with the white folks, mostly, the police.
But Black Lives do not Matter that much when it is Black on Black violence and murder.
Indeed, Black Lives Matter, but above this is ALL LIVES MATTER.
Period!

0
Reply
Josh
Josh
3 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Actually, reject the turmoil isn’t the right statement- negate the pain and suffering is a better description.

0
Reply
Chris
Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Josh

Well said. Anonymous is racist.

0
Reply
sg
sg
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Nonsense…I agree with Anonymous. BLM thinks they have the morally authority to judge our society while abdicating any responsibility for the devastating damage they did to cities with all the “protests” last year.

0
Reply
RL
RL
3 years ago
Reply to  sg

what devastating damage? I don’t think one nite of some hoodlum vandals counts as devastating.

0
Reply
James
James
3 years ago

GIMME A BREAK

Hope those Texans spend a fortune on airfare between Texas & NYC & that the serve some time in jail.

0
Reply
Chris B
Chris B
3 years ago
Reply to  James

Yep

0
Reply
UWSConcerned
UWSConcerned
3 years ago

It will be interesting to see if the NY courts punish the attackers.

0
Reply
jezbel
jezbel
3 years ago

I, for one, believe her. Her argument makes sense.
That aside – violence is NEVER the answer.

0
Reply
End Fossil Fuels Now
End Fossil Fuels Now
3 years ago

Hillary Clinton said it best: “I would say that everybody should be believed at first until they are disbelieved based on evidence.”

0
Reply
Valerie
Valerie
3 years ago
Reply to  End Fossil Fuels Now

That a girl Hill!

0
Reply
Mary
Mary
3 years ago
Reply to  End Fossil Fuels Now

Kinda like how “believe all women” was the rule when the accused was Trump or Brett K, but that morphed into “well-l-l believe some women kinda sometimes but not now” when the accused was Biden.

0
Reply
Chris B
Chris B
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary

Yep

0
Reply
RK
RK
3 years ago
Reply to  End Fossil Fuels Now

I believe that you are a witch, and that must be disproved by one of the well-accepted witch detection methods. You know, like throwing you in the river and seeing if you float (witches float). If you drown, congratulations you’re exonerated (but unfortunately dead too)

I wish this were fiction. One of the best reasons for “innocent until proven guilty”

0
Reply
Jake van Hoensbroek
Jake van Hoensbroek
3 years ago
Reply to  End Fossil Fuels Now

“everybody should be believed at first until they are disbelieved based on evidence.” In other words if some one makes an accusation, you are guilty until proven innocent? That is not the way our system works.

0
Reply
Anon
Anon
3 years ago

I’m not generally a praying person but I truly do pray that the three Texan women can find it in their hearts to realize they were wrong to physically attack the hostess, and to really reflect on what one of them heard…it doesn’t seem likely to me that someone *at work* would call a customer that word. It’s much more likely that the Texan misheard “dinner.”

0
Reply
Steve
Steve
3 years ago

Some of you are so disrespectful and sarcastic, regardless of what was said to the 3 woman from Texas does NOT give them the right to physically abuse the woman who was doing her job and following the law.

0
Reply
Arlene Mehlman
Arlene Mehlman
3 years ago

I am an avid civil rights/black lives matter, etc.supporter. I have worked with OEO and Urban League. I am very disappointed that Black Lives Matter is defending disrespectful customers because they are black. Black Lives Matter would help Black people much more by encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.

0
Reply
David
David
3 years ago

The proof of vaccination policy was clearly stated at the restaurant. And the three women, or for that matter any customer or would be customer should have the sense of community and civic responsibility to abide by the rule. If the Mayor of our city had any backbone, he would have pushed for the disregard for indoor dining vaccination card requirements to be a criminal offense punishable by court appearance and a painful fine.

0
Reply
Ellen
Ellen
3 years ago

Well this is an example of why white males have been in charge since anyone can remember. If we keep doing this, they win.

0
Reply
John Bonhomme
John Bonhomme
3 years ago

Hey Texans. No steers to wrestle with here in NYC. Just you’re everyday old BS.

0
Reply
jimbo
jimbo
3 years ago

Hey Rag–have a sense of humor….

0
Reply

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