Restaurant kicked out couple with immune-compromised baby for wearing masks

A restaurant in Texas kicked out a couple for wearing masks in order to protect their baby who is immunocompromised.

Natalie Wester and her husband were kicked out of Hang Time Sports Grill & Bar in Rowlett, Texas, on Sept. 10, The Washington Post reported. 

Tom Blackmer, the owner of the restaurant, told The Washington Post there is a ban on masks in his establishment and the hostess tells everyone who enters to take off their masks.

“I have spent my money on the business, my blood sweat and tears in this business, and I don’t want masks in here,” Blackmer told CBS DFW.

Wester said she misunderstood the hostess and thought they just needed to take their masks off for a moment to compare their IDs with their face. Her husband and she put the masks back on to order food and drinks.

“Our waitress came over, sat down next to me and said, ‘Our manager told me to come over because I am nicer than he is. … But this is political and I need you to take your masks off,’” Wester told the local outlet. 

Wester told the waitress her son has cystic fibrosis, making him more likely to get severely ill from the common cold, the flu and COVID-19. But she was still told they had to pay their bill and leave if they refused to take off their masks.

The couple posted about the incident on Facebook, causing a backlash for both the couple and the restaurant from pro- and anti-mask commenters, according to the Post.

Some accused the couple of hypocrisy, pointing to pictures of the couple out without masks. Wester said she only took off the masks for pictures.

Blackmer told the Post he hasn’t been able to sleep in two days and had to move from his Dallas apartment since he was doxxed on Twitter. “This town is trying to burn me down,” he said.

However, he doesn’t regret his choice to kick the couple out. 

“This is right,” he said, “and if we don’t have a business next week, we’ll be fine.”