Burger King Employee Dismissed for Saying 'Free Palestine'

An interaction between an employee and a customer at a Burger King fast-food restaurant in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, United States, has become a talking point. The incident involved an Israeli-American musician, Rami Feinstein, and an employee named Arianna Hamilton.

According to a report by Roya News on Thursday (6/8/2026), while placing an order, Hamilton noticed the Star of David necklace worn by Feinstein and asked where he was from. After Feinstein replied that he was from Israel, Hamilton said the words “Free Palestine”. Feinstein recorded the incident, requested a refund, and left the restaurant before uploading the video to the internet.

Responding to the viral video, Burger King’s central management issued an official apology and reaffirmed their stance against discrimination.

“We are very sorry to hear about the experience you had. Burger King is a place where everyone should feel welcome, respected, and free from discrimination. We do not tolerate antisemitism, hatred, or any form of discrimination. We are working with the franchise owner who operates this restaurant to address the situation,” read Burger King’s official statement.

As a result of the incident, Hamilton was dismissed on charges of discriminatory conduct. Nevertheless, the decision has sparked both support and criticism on social media. Many netizens have expressed support for Hamilton through comments such as “Let’s all support Ariana”, “We love you, Arianna”, and other messages of solidarity.