A Popeyes employee who was arrested after he was caught on camera body-slamming a woman in the parking lot of one of the chain’s Tennessee outpost has been fired.
Employee Deriance Ra’Shaiel Hughes, 29, was terminated following the Tuesday attack outside of a Popeyes in Columbia, the chicken franchise told The Post Wednesday.
“We were shocked to learn about what happened in Tennessee. These actions run completely contrary to our standards and the integrity of our brand,” Popeyes said in a statement.
“Following an investigation, the franchisee took immediate action and we were informed that the employee has since been terminated. The entire circumstance is highly unfortunate for all involved and we hope to never see this type of behavior again.”
Hughes was busted and charged with felony aggravated assault in connection to the incident.
Online videos of the altercation show a woman walking out of the chicken joint with several employees in Popeyes uniforms quickly following her out.
Suddenly, one uniformed man can be seen raising the woman up in his arms before throwing her down to the ground. The man can be heard shouting at the wounded woman as he stands over here.
“That’s what you get!” the man shouts.
Rocky McElhaney, an attorney for the victim, told the Nashville Tennessean that the woman underwent two surgeries as a result of the attack and will need months of rehabilitation.
The victim claims that she ate at the same Popeyes on Sunday and paid $13.11 for a meal of corn, biscuits, chicken tenders and apple pies. When she returned home, she realized that she had been billed twice.
The woman then called the manager who told her to come back with documentation in order to get a refund, her attorney said.
“When she got there she was treated with hostility and anger from the manager,” McElhaney told the news outlet. “There were words back and forth.”
McElhaney said his client denied allegations that she used a racial slur, instead claiming: “My client was called ‘an ugly broke-down cracker.’”