Janiyah Mishelle Williams Fired by Smoothie King After Refusing Service to Erika Lindemyer and Jacob “Jake” Over Trump Hoodie in Ann Arbor, Michigan; GoFundMe Page Deleted [VIDEO]

Janiyah Mishelle Williams is no longer employed at Smoothie King following a viral incident at the company’s franchise location in Ann Arbor involving customers Erika Lindemyer and her husband, Jacob Jake.

The confrontation occurred after Williams and another employee refused to serve Jacob “Jake,” who was wearing a hoodie featuring the name of President Donald Trump. In a video recorded by Erika Lindemyer, the employees stated they did not “feel comfortable” serving the couple because of the hoodie.

“We were just wanting a smoothie, and you literally looked at us, and I asked you if everything was okay, and you said, ‘We don’t feel comfortable serving you’ because of my husband’s hoodie. That is discrimination,” Erika said in the footage.

One employee responded, “Okay, well, have a great day.”

When Erika insisted the refusal was illegal, another employee stated, “I said Trump discriminates (against) us.”

 

The couple argued that their political views should not prevent them from being served. During the exchange, an employee told them the business had the right to refuse service and directed them to leave. Erika stated she intended to call police, though it remains unclear whether a report was filed.

The video quickly circulated online, sparking debate about political discrimination and customer service policies. Shortly afterward, Smoothie King released a statement confirming that the employees involved in the incident “are no longer with the business.”

“As a brand, Smoothie King is committed to ensuring our stores are a place free of discrimination of any kind, where every guest and team member is treated with care and respect,” the company said in a public statement. The Ann Arbor franchise owner also announced mandatory retraining for staff regarding guest experience standards.

Following her termination, a GoFundMe page reportedly created in connection to Janiyah Mishelle Williams was later removed. The reason for the page’s deletion has not been publicly clarified.

In a separate video shared online, Williams stated that she is a minor and asked for assistance in getting the original video taken down, claiming she had been subjected to racist comments in response to the viral clip.

At this time, no criminal charges have been filed against any parties involved. The incident continues to generate discussion online regarding political expression, business rights, and public accommodation policies.