Illinois Woman in Hijab Reports Dunkin’ Donuts Employee Called Her ‘Weirdo.’ Then Dunkin’ Gave Her $100 Gift Card as an Apology

An Illinois woman says a Dunkin’ Donuts employee called her a “weirdo” while she was ordering coffee, and she later received a $100 gift card from the company after sharing her experience on TikTok. Creator Inayah (@inayahbeldeen) documented the alleged incident in a video filmed at a Dunkin’ location in Illinois while she was wearing a hijab. Her videos and follow-up posts have since attracted significant attention on the platform.

In the first video, Inayah recorded part of the encounter in the drive-thru. The footage shows her interacting with an employee. In the audio, it sounds as if the woman working the drive-thru offscreen says “weirdo,” though it’s difficult to make out. Inayah indicated that she felt uncomfortable during the exchange and questioned why the comment had been made.

In a follow-up video, Inayah provided additional details about what she says happened before and after the recorded interaction. She also explained how she responded after leaving the store and described the company’s reaction.

Inayah described Dunkin’s response

According to Inayah’s follow-up TikTok video, she contacted Dunkin’ regarding the incident. She said the company later offered an apology and provided her with a $100 Dunkin gift card. Inayah laughed about the gesture, pointing out the irony of a massive corporation offering a gift card to compensate her for the experience. She stressed she didn’t want followers to harass or leave negative comments about the Dunkin’ Donuts location, manager, or employee.

As of this writing, no official corporate statement from Dunkin’ regarding Inayah’s specific allegations appeared in publicly available media reports. The account of the incident comes from Inayah’s TikTok posts and statements she made in those videos. The claims have not been independently verified.

Dunkin’ has previously addressed customer-service controversies involving individual franchise locations and employees. In past incidents, the company has issued public apologies or statements after customer complaints gained traction online.

Because the videos document only part of the interaction, the full context of the exchange remains unclear. The publicly available information currently consists of Inayah’s recordings, her follow-up explanation, and her account of the company’s response.

Inayah’s TikTok content typically centers on personal, real-life experiences and commentary drawn from everyday situations. She frequently shares storytime-style videos where she describes interactions she has had in public spaces, along with her reactions and reflections afterward.

Her posts often focus on social encounters and moments that prompt discussion in the comments. Elements of her identity, including her experience as a Muslim woman in Illinois who wears a hijab, occasionally appear in her content.

(featured image: Inayah (@inayahbeldeen) via TikTok)

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]