![The Saltgrass steakhouse in Odessa, Tex.]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"50","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBL0V5T.img?h=499&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"39","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBL0V5T.img?h=389&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"39","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBL0V5T.img?h=389&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
“After further investigation, we have learned that our employee fabricated the entire story,” Terry Turney, the chief operating officer of Saltgrass steakhouses, said in a statement. “Racism of any form is intolerable, and we will always act swiftly should it occur in any of our establishments. Falsely accusing someone of racism is equaling disturbing.”
“I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists,” Cavil wrote. “Although, this is nothing new, it is still something that will test your faith.”
Cavil’s post was shared thousands of times, generating about 8,000 comments on Facebook. The decision by Saltgrass, which is owned by the company Landry’s, to ban the customer for the incident drew coverage in USA Today
![]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"53","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBL0yo3.img?h=530&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"41","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBL0yo3.img?h=414&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"41","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBL0yo3.img?h=414&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
“All I can say is he’s no longer with the company,” spokeswoman Colleen Wagner said. It is not clear what information on the receipt was authentic.
The customer, whose name had been redacted on the receipt, has not been identified, but the company said that the person has been invited back to the restaurant to dine free.
Cavil was not immediately available to comment. A voice-mail message left with his mother, Jamie Swindle, was not returned. The Odessa American reported that he had apologized in an interview with a reporter.
After his story went viral, Cavil thanked supporters on Facebook who sent him money. But Cavil’s Facebook posts about the incident have since been deleted and it is not clear whether his profile still exists.
At the time, Cavil gave an interview to an ABC affiliate in Texas in which he spoke about what he said was the history of his name and about how his faith was guiding him through the experience of supposedly being called a terrorist.
“It was not about the money,” Cavil said. “It’s about shedding a light on an issue I feel very passionately about.”
