Manager Faces Backlash for Rejecting Job Applicant Due to Weight; Single Mother, Crystal Harrington, Speaks Out
Crystal Harrington, a 22-year-old single mother, is speaking out after being turned down for a waitressing job at Baytown Seafood restaurant in West Columbia due to her weight. Harrington, who was seeking to earn extra cash as a server, expressed her disappointment with the manager’s straightforward but hurtful comments during the interview.
According to Harrington, the manager justified their decision by emphasizing the importance of appearance over job performance. The manager allegedly mentioned that while a skinny waitress might provide subpar service, she would still receive better tips, unlike “big girls” like Harrington. The young mother found the comments inappropriate and discriminatory.
Despite being offered the job, Harrington declined the position, citing the manager’s offensive remarks as a deal-breaker. She expressed her frustration, stating that the comments went “over the line” and left her feeling discriminated against.
The manager in question, identified as Mary Pruett, denied making any comments about Harrington’s weight. Pruett asserted that Harrington’s social media posts were inaccurate and that size was not a factor in the hiring decision. She defended the restaurant’s diverse staff and claimed that Harrington was wrong to publicly share content about her.
Harrington, however, stands by her account, maintaining that she turned down the job because she did not want to work for someone who would judge her based on her size. The incident has sparked a larger conversation about body shaming and employment discrimination, raising questions about the line between professional expectations and personal appearance.
