Introduction

Texas Roadhouse, the popular American steakhouse chain, is facing online backlash after unverified social media posts alleged that employees were part of a large private Facebook group where users discussed mistreating Black customers. The controversy has prompted the company to investigate and respond publicly.

The Allegation

The controversy began when an unverified claim originated on Facebook, allegedly from a user warning Black diners to avoid eating at Texas Roadhouse and Logan's Roadhouse. The post alleged that a secret Facebook group with more than 400,000 white server members existed for the explicit purpose of organizing food contamination targeted at Black customers. Specific accusations claimed that servers were licking their fingers, spitting in saliva, and touching items like the chain's famous fresh rolls before serving them.

On Sunday, X user @yannaarose_ amplified the claim, stating that the group included discussions about spitting in Black customers' food and other forms of mistreatment. She claimed, "They are also licking their fingers and touching the rolls. I want this to be fake news so bad, but apparently it's not." The post was later amplified by other accounts, including @FearedBuck, and quickly sparked outrage online.

One X user wrote, "So don't eat at Texas Roadhouse if you're a person of color. Got it. Apparently there is a group on Facebook with 400k members and they have agreed to spit in our food as a collective. Disgusting, demonic souls.. i swear." Another added, "As if I needed another reason not to go to Texas Road House…anyway they probably gonna say they spit in ALL the food so they aren't racist."

Texas Roadhouse's Response

Texas Roadhouse investigated the claims and said they found no such private Facebook group. The company dismissed the allegations as completely unfounded, calling them a hoax. Texas Roadhouse brought in an independent third-party cybersecurity firm to trace the origins of the post. The firm confirmed there was no evidence of a 400,000-member group existing, nor any record of food-tampering incidents linked to the claim.

In response to the outrage, Texas Roadhouse officials wrote, "We are committed to creating an environment where every guest is treated with respect and unreasonable hospitality. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or mistreatment of any kind, and we expect our Roadies to treat every guest with dignity and care." However, this statement was not independently verified by Hindustan Times and was not found on the company's official website or social media accounts at the time of reporting.

Travis Doster, chief communications officer of Texas Roadhouse, told USA TODAY that some social media users who defamed the chain retracted their statements after it was proved to be a hoax. "There's no video of any of our servers," he said, "There's no video of anybody saying they have evidence. It's very frustrating because it's not true." He also said, "There is zero credible evidence this is true. This did not happen in any of our restaurants." Doster suggested the culprit behind the post could be bots, or automated programs that make posts mimicking human engagement online. The original Facebook post was deleted.

The Post's Origin

The post was allegedly shared in a Facebook group called 'White and proud' by a user named Nancy Smith, who said they worked at an unidentified Texas Roadhouse location. Smith referenced the pact had been going on since the April 2025 killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf by a Black teenager named Karmelo Anthony, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison. These details were reported by The Times of India.

Current Status

The allegations remain unverified with no evidence establishing that Texas Roadhouse employees collectively participated in such discussions. The company's denial, supported by an independent cybersecurity investigation, contrasts with the initial social media uproar, but no official confirmation of the original claims has emerged.