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| Black Wetherspoon's customer boycotts pub over banana order | Black Wetherspoon's customer boycotts pub over banana order |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Wetherspoon's customer who had a banana sent to his table in an act of racial abuse is boycotting the pub. | A Wetherspoon's customer who had a banana sent to his table in an act of racial abuse is boycotting the pub. |
| Mark D'arcy-Smith was drinking with a friend at The Richmal Crompton in Bromley, south-east London, on 8 November, when the fruit arrived on a plate with a receipt. | |
| The 24-year-old said he "froze" when staff gave it to him and was left feeling "upset, shocked and scared". | The 24-year-old said he "froze" when staff gave it to him and was left feeling "upset, shocked and scared". |
| Wetherspoon's said it had apologised to Mr D'arcy-Smith. | Wetherspoon's said it had apologised to Mr D'arcy-Smith. |
| The pub chain has an app that allows customers to order food and drink and have it delivered to a table. | The pub chain has an app that allows customers to order food and drink and have it delivered to a table. |
| The Met Police said it was investigating the "racially aggravated public order offence". No arrests have been made. | |
| Mr D'arcy Smith said: "I looked at my friend and he knew straight away. We both thought this is wrong. | Mr D'arcy Smith said: "I looked at my friend and he knew straight away. We both thought this is wrong. |
| "I had this rush of emotions - I was upset, a little bit angry, shocked and scared. I just froze in place. | "I had this rush of emotions - I was upset, a little bit angry, shocked and scared. I just froze in place. |
| "I don't think a lot of people understand what racial abuse is like. | "I don't think a lot of people understand what racial abuse is like. |
| "You are essentially saying a black person is not human and they are an animal." | "You are essentially saying a black person is not human and they are an animal." |
| In a statement, Wetherspoon's said it had apologised to Mr D'arcy Smith for any distress caused. | In a statement, Wetherspoon's said it had apologised to Mr D'arcy Smith for any distress caused. |
| "This is now a police matter," a spokesman added. | "This is now a police matter," a spokesman added. |
| "We have responded to the customer and pointed out that the pub cannot be held responsible for app orders." | "We have responded to the customer and pointed out that the pub cannot be held responsible for app orders." |