Mea Culpa: Update on Texas Waiter Stiffed on Tip and Left Racist Message

Ok. I covered this story on Friday of last week, so here’s the regrettable follow up.

To recap, I wrote about the story of a young Texas steakhouse waiter, Khalil Cavil, who said he was stiffed on a tip by a customer.

Not only was he stiffed on a tip, but the customer circled his name, Khalil, and wrote at the top, “We don’t tip terrorist.”

Yeah, it’s misspelled.

It was disgusting and depressing, to think a young man could be treated so shabbily, simply because of his name.

In last week’s story, here was young Mr. Cavil’s statement:

“Last night at work I received this note from one of my tables. At the moment I didn’t know what to think nor what to say, I was sick to my stomach. I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists. Although this is nothing new, it is still something that will test your faith,” Cavil wrote, with a link to the bill receipt in which the unnamed customer had circled the name “Khalil” and wrote with a pen, “we don’t tip terrorist.”

“All day I’ve had to remind myself that Jesus died for these people too. I have decided to let this encourage me, and fuel me to change the world the only way I know how. So to all the haters out there, keep talkin, [you’re] only helping me step into my destiny,” the waiter added.

That’s encouraging, right? It’s the perfect Christian message of turning the other cheek.

It didn’t end there. Of course, when news broke, the hearts of many were moved for this young man, and they dug deep. Cavil responded:

“To all of the people who have sent me money I want to thank you as well. I want to make it very clear that this was never about the tip nor the money. It was about shedding a light on racism and sharing the love of Jesus. It was about igniting conversations because I believe real change happens when we start talking about the issue and acknowledging [it’s] there,” he wrote.

“So thank you to everyone who has invested in me over these past few days. With much prayer, I have decided to put all of the funds I have received into missionary work through my home church,” he added.

“This will help other people spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to different places around the world. Let’s make the enemy pay by helping other people establish the Kingdom of God here on earth. Thank you!”

He wanted to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I’ll admit, I read this story and my heart cheered for this young man.

But then, as we’ve seen before with similar stories, the other shoe dropped.

Mr. Cavil, professing himself to be a Christian, overlooked God’s commandments. Number nine on God’s list, as handed down to Moses says this:

Exodus 20:16 AMP – ¹⁶ “You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person).

Mr. Cavil, you have some repenting to do.

According to news out today, what Cavil said happened, didn’t.

After making national news, Cavil admitted the story was a hoax.

“I did write it,” Cavil said Monday. “I don’t have an explanation. I made a mistake. There is no excuse for what I did.”

Cavil also apologized to a reporter for lying to him about the story.

“I’m sorry. I deeply made a huge, big mistake,” Cavil said. “And I’m in the process of getting the help that I need.”

The owner of Saltgrass Steak House, the Odessa, Texas eatery where this all went down, has issued a statement, as well.

“After further investigation,” the statement read, “we have learned that our employee fabricated the entire story. The customer has been contacted and invited back to our restaurant to dine on us. Racism of any form is intolerable, and we will always act swiftly should it occur in any of our establishments. Falsely accusing someone of racism is equaling disturbing.”

Indeed it is.

And this is becoming a regular thing. Fabricated stories of racism or discrimination not only wrongly demonize individuals or certain groups, but they lessen the impact of actual cases of racism or discrimination, desensitizing the public.

It’s a form of victim fatigue, combined with Boy-Who-Cried-Wolf syndrome.

There are serious, and very real cases out there that need attention. Our society doesn’t need any help imploding.

Cavil said that he’ll be returning all the money donated to him after his false tale, and that’s a good thing. In the meantime, he’s lost his job at the steak house, and if he doesn’t get sued, he’ll be very fortunate.

Thou shalt not lie, Mr. Cavil, even if you feel you’re doing it for a good reason.