Racial Discrimination Controversy: Apology, Not PR, Is What Great White Needs Most

A racial discrimination controversy has erupted in Los Angeles after claims surfaced that the popular restaurant Great White had been seating Asian customers separately in the corners of its dining area.

The incident began with a TikTok video posted by Korean-American influencer Cassidy Cho, who dined at the restaurant’s Melrose location in September. In her video, she pointed out that “all the white customers were seated in the main hall, while Asian diners were gathered in the corner.”

The video quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking a wave of testimonies from other people of color who said they had experienced similar treatment. “When I went to the Melrose location with friends, we were seated near the restroom,” one user wrote. Another said, “My boyfriend is Korean, and both times we visited, we were seated in the corner.”

As the controversy grew, the restaurant issued a statement denying the allegations, saying, “Claims of racial discrimination are not true.” But further problems soon emerged. Former employees came forward, alleging that racism was ingrained in the restaurant’s management practices — including internal instructions to “treat customers of color differently” and remarks suggesting that “too many Black customers could make the place feel like a ghetto.”

Adding to the backlash, multiple female employees accused co-owners Sam Cooper and Sam Trude of sexual harassment, claiming they pressured women to wear revealing outfits and engaged in unwanted physical contact.

Despite the worsening public outrage, Great White’s response was seen as an attempt at image control rather than a genuine apology. The management released photos showing themselves dining with Asian acquaintances and influencers they personally knew.

The move only fueled further suspicion that the event had been staged. Korean-American influencer Ed Choi alleged that Great White had recently approached several Asian food influencers with paid partnership offers, calling it a cynical effort to use Asians to whitewash the restaurant’s image.

The backlash was evident in the online comments. Under the restaurant’s photos featuring Asian guests, one user mocked, “It’s like they corralled a group of Asian tourists as soon as they got off the plane and said, ‘Come eat here for free!’” Another wrote, “They’ll do anything and everything rather than apologize.”

Perhaps Great White felt wronged. One might even call it an unfortunate mistake. But even indifference can create discrimination. Hate doesn’t always come with intent — silence and exclusion can wound just as deeply. We’ve seen countless times how people justify prejudice by saying, “There was no malicious intent.” Whether it was racism or poor judgment, what the restaurant needed first was a sincere apology.

There are two lessons Korean Americans can take from this incident. The first is the courage of Cassidy Cho, who refused to stay silent in the face of injustice. While many would have looked the other way to avoid “causing trouble,” she chose to speak up and sparked an important public conversation. Her action — using social media for justice — reflects the moral conscience of a new digital generation.

The second lesson is a warning to Korean-owned businesses. If a Korean restaurant were to make non-Korean customers feel uncomfortable — through subtle differences in seating, service, or pricing — the damage would extend far beyond the restaurant’s reputation. It would erode the credibility of the entire Korean community. If we demand justice only when we are the victims, we risk losing it when we become the offenders.

By Koohyun Chung [chung.koohyun@koreadaily.com]