An Atlanta woman has gone viral with over 6.6 million views after exposing Popeyes employees for not allowing her to purchase food for a man experiencing homelessness named Jazz. Jo Ortega, a student at Georgia State University, was picking up an order for DoorDash last month when she saw a man who seemed hungry.
@thegirlyjo CRAZY Popeyes in Atlanta would not let me purchase food for homeless! #atlanta #dontletthisflop #fyp #videoviral @popeyes @theshaderoom #FindYourEdge #fyp ♬ original sound – thegirlyjo
Ortega decided to order Jazz chicken after being told that her order was not ready for pickup. While waiting, Ortega decided to go back outside and ask him if he wanted anything to eat but before asking Jazz for his order, she told the Popeyes workers what her intended plan was, the NY Post reports.
The employees at the store near Ponce de Leon Ave would not allow the transaction.
“No ma’am, you can’t do it,” one employee told Ortega.
“Why? He’s asking for food? ” Ortega told the employee.
“Ma’am, you can’t do it. I could care less about you recording me, baby,” another team member replied before shutting the drive-thru window on Ortega.
Popeyes workers then called the police on Ortega for refusing to leave.
“They called the cops on me, everything, bro. I can’t order anything for this homeless man right here, he asked for food, he didn’t ask for no money. And they being so rude,” Ortega said.
“At that moment I was terrified, I thought I was gonna get arrested. Maybe I should just call my family, and I might not be coming home tonight,” Ortega said.
@thegirlyjo Replying to @mikeb26231 really crazy situation so grateful for all of the support ❤️ #atlanta #fyp #foryoupage @popeyes @FOXTV ♬ original sound – thegirlyjo
The Atlanta Police Department’s Public Information Officer, Benjamin Hopson, said the Popeyes employee was not on the scene when they arrived.
“Units arrived on the scene, and the caller was already gone. The call was cleared with no arrest/no report,” Hopson said.
The general manager of the Ponce location felt terrible after learning from police about how her staff handled the incident and allowed Ortega and Jazz to order whatever they wanted from the menu for free.
Ortega explained she was applauded by a responding officer who thanked her for attempting to buy food for Jazz.
“The officer pulled me to the side and said, ‘I really thank you for doing that, thank you for buying him food. I appreciate that,” Ortega said.
In a statement, Popeyes said as a company it is “committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect.”
“We have ensured all employees at this restaurant have been provided with retraining to help navigate a range of guest interactions, such as the situation highlighted in the video.”
Ortega’s new venture is starting a fundraiser to assist in finding permanent housing for Jazz.
“I want to help get him off the streets and buy him a new tent and socks etc. All of the proceeds will go toward him and I’m currently looking for any programs in Atlanta Georgia that could help him out in his situation,” she said. “Also, please contact me if you have any resources that could help!”
Ortega is working on a separate GoFundMe to support other unsheltered families that have reached out to her since finding her viral video.
