A Fairfield man seen in a now-viral video throwing a drink at employees of a local smoothie shop and yelling racist comments has been fired by his employer, FOX61 has confirmed.
He has apologized for his actions after being arrested.
The video, recorded by an employee at a Robeks, located at 2061 Black Rock Turnpike, went viral Saturday night. It showed a man confronting employees and yelling at them.
In the video, he demanded to know who made the smoothie, and when employees could not tell him, the man became mad, yelling at employees and using a number of expletives. At one point, he is seen throwing a drink at an employee. He can also be heard making comments toward an employee referencing their immigration status.
The man, James Iannazzo, 48, of Fairfield, issued a statement through his attorney. “My actions at Robek’s were wrong, and I deeply regret them. They do not reflect my values or my character. I feel terrible that I lost my composure so completely.”
Merrill Lynch confirmed that Iannazzo has been fired. In a statement, they said, “Our company does not tolerate behavior of this kind. We immediately investigated and have taken action. This individual is no longer employed at our firm.”
Police said Sunday they received numerous calls from employees from the shop around 2:26 p.m. on Saturday. The employees said a customer was throwing things, yelling at employees, and refusing to leave.
They said about an hour and 15 minutes earlier, Iannazzo had purchased a drink at Robeks and left the store without incident.
Sometime later, around 1:39 p.m., a 911 call was made by Iannazzo requesting an EMS response to his home for a child suffering from an allergic reaction. The child was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
According to police, Iannazzo returned to the smoothie shop and the incident escalated after making his demands. He claimed that the smoothie he purchased contained peanuts, causing his child’s allergic reaction.
In Ianazzo’s statement, he said, “I had returned to Robek’s to determine what ingredients were in the smoothie that I had previously ordered. I made my regrettable comments because my 17-year-old son was taken to the hospital suffering from life threatening anaphylactic shock. He collapsed at our home while drinking the smoothie from Robek’s, which contained some sort of nut product, after I had advised them of his nut allergy when I ordered his drink.”
According to police, employees reported that Iannazzo never told them about the peanut allergy but had only requested that there be no peanut butter in his drink.
Ianazzo said, “After he started to drink his smoothie, my son lost the capacity to breathe properly; his lips and face swelled up, and he required an EpiPen shot, but it did not offer him relief. I called 911. My son then went to the bathroom, threw up and fell unconscious to the floor. He threw up again. My wife gave him another EpiPen while I called 911 again. Thank God, he is doing okay. I’d like to thank my wife and the first responders who I believe saved his life. This is the worst nightmare of every parent whose child has a similar allergy.”
Employees told Iannzzo to leave multiple times but he remained inside the shop and continued to yell insults at the employees. Police said the man attempted to open a locked door that led to an “Employees Only” area where the employees were behind the counter.
RELATED: Juvenile arrested for social media threat targeting Fairfield school
Police said Iannazzo left the store before police arrived. After he was identified, he turned himself in to authorities telling officers that he was upset about his son having a severe allergic reaction and he went back to the store as a result.
Iannazzo said, “I was out of my mind with fear for him when I returned to Robek’s, and I wish I had not done so. I also wish they had been more careful preparing my son’s beverage. I will be extending my apologies personally to the Robek’s organization, particularly the staff that was working there that night.”
Iannazzo was arrested and charged with Intimidation Based on Bigotry or Bias in the Second Degree, Breach of Peace in the Second Degree and Criminal Trespass in the First Degree. He was issued a court appearance date of February 7 at Bridgeport Superior Court.
The attorney for Iannazzo, Frank J. Riccio II, released a statement for his client, saying his client, “is not a racist individual and regrets his statement and actions during a moment of extreme emotional stress.”
source
If he is so concerned about his son he should be by his side not traumatizing 4 teen girls.
He totally earned his firing for this disgraceful episode, he ought to be ashamed of himself, I feel sorry for his Daughter more than anything! her Dad is a clown. Racist insults and assault! if he did one thing right he turned himself in.
I was today years old when I found out they put peanut butter in smoothies. Wtf, murica?
They have a bad attitude towards customers. Those girls could've handled that better. Those girls were very disrespectful. Sadly, that happens a lot. Whatever happened to the customer is always right? Thank you for your business? It seems like it doesn't seem to exist anymore. Places like this should be boycotted. The lesson here is. Don't waste your money on places where the workers are going to be rude.
Those Idiot workers lack the common sense to understand his anger and tried to make it all about themselves mouthing off until ? got real then it's 'I'm a helpless female' gaslighting time.
The girl with the pink nails is terrible at her job.. I understand this guy went overboard but it’s rule of thumb in customer service jobs you don’t intentionally rile up your customers especially when they’re clearly upset about something serious.. I would be shocked if he didn’t mention that it was because his son had a peanut allergy.. which is not a rare request in food service.. I’m glad this guy lost his job and was exposed but the girl that got the smoothie thrown at her was absolutely in the wrong as well
He is such a total racist I feel sorry for the staff I'm glad he got arrested
I wouldn't have bothered to confront them face to face. I would have found their corporate number and made a complaint through them. Much more constructive.
Getting defensive and escalating the situation didn't make it better. That place is no Chik Fil A.
She shouldn't have been screaming back at him. Just give him the corporate number. They have attorneys that can handle it.
As if the cops themselves aren’t this racist
Classic racist entitled trumpican. Enjoy paying your lawyer and your kid's medical bills idiot. I bet your son hates you.
He called them ‘….immigrants’ WTF??? where the hell does he think his family name originated…pezzo d merda….no need for any of that.. all he had to do is ask politely, at least i think so…well done the staff.
The 'you have to respect your elders' argument is dead and laughable today. If you want respect you have to earn it no matter how old you are, this hateful man's got a lot to learn.
That's direct physical battery and assault of a minor. That worthless piece of shit needs peanuts rammed in every orifice he has. There is NO reason to give a minor that attitude, language, nor ESPECIALLY to physically assault them.
Where is the original of this? Was it longer?
He's lucky I wasn't there. I would have knocked his crazy a** out.
Why is faux showing woke vids here?
Is this video even real? Or did they pull a jussie Smollett ?? Easy solution give the money back and don't say a word. When you argue with trash you'll lower yourself to their level. The teen looks like she was going to get a ulcer from this. It's a fcking min wage job making smoothies. Why even bother with this prick? Love the part where he called her a immigrant. I'll use it next time if I wanna be a prick customer ?
The fact he tried to come through the back door, those girls could have used anything to kill him at that point.
He has all rights to be mad but the way he handled it was not appropriate
Shame shame shame….stupid…48years old man…. what did you learn during 48years…common!!!!! Man~~~~~~♡
We will remember you smoothie man of 2022
He must be an abuser in private if he acts like this in public to young girls who didn’t do anything.
Truth be told that little girl shot her mouth off & that's why the guy threw the paper cup drink at her. Children today don't respect their elders ,End of Story!
The law suit will bankrupt that place. Which would be best for all. Just for public safety Remember that man's 17yr. old son could have died from this place. End of Story no coming back after your dead.
To General Public boycott this place at all costs. Shut them down!!!
James, you'll have the last laugh. Those children had no respect when speaking to a adult. Go over their heads & deal directly with the corporate office. Don't waste your time arguing with children & Yes as the video shows her unprofessional way of speaking to you only made manner worse. Biggest problem Children today have no respect for their elders. Plain & simple truth. Just listen to her & make all evolved dead wrong for not handling that situation in a adult professional manner. Fire the staff that almost killed that man son. You want to fire or blame someone. I guarantee the owner don't want that bad publicity of their shop.
James be sure & put a law suit in on that smoothie shop with your lawyer. They causd you to loose your position @ Merrill Lynch
Don’t get me wrong I’d be pretty upset too if my kid had an allergic reaction too but he didn’t have to take it that far. Bozo vibes ?
Lol what kind of grown ass man cries over a smoothie?
I'd have pressed assault charges on that man for the cup if I were that girl. Fuck his life up more
he did not use any racist language, since when is "immigrant" a racist word?
1) All owners of restaurants should train their employees on how to respond to complaints, if she was properly trained not to argue or yell or fight with customers , just apologize for the mistake. how would you expect the customer to respond when they’ve waste their time and money?
2) Where was the Manager? Restaurants are leaving teenagers to run there business I see this all the time.
3) Parents teach your children to respect all adults to stay in a child’s place, it’s called manners if everyone understood The purpose of having good manners most negative situations could be easily avoided, (road rage )etc.
The young girl yelling and screaming escalated situation. What if the guy had mental issues and was carrying a loaded gun? Do you think that’s a good idea to yell and scream at a complete stranger?
4) Clearly he crossed the line with racist remarks and throwing his drink. No one deserves that. That’s verbal and physical assault , completely against the law.
There’s no room in this world for racism. That was unnecessary. The customer should’ve simply ask for management, got their names reported the incident etc. BTW If you or your ancestors are not
(Native American ) you are an essentially an immigrant if you live in America, including this customer.
Please read my comment with a OPEN MIND and use common sense and common knowledge. it’s two sides to every story. if you want respect you must LEAD the respect. it’s highly unlikely to give respect and be disrespected in return.
Think for yourself and stop being a followers of what’s popular.
Intimidation and violence he did it the MAFIA way!
Of course the police would say that. They’re PAID by the government
i mean like , ight he is angry abt his son but who tf throws that same fukng smoothie on a high school girl who has ntn to do w it , jail served him right lmao, imagine his son wakin up knowin his dad went to jail cz he fought high school girls and went racist on them. tbh better revenge wouldve just been handling it professionally since he's a wealth advicer he wdve been able to pull it off lmao.
woulda done the same thing
can yall stop they almost killed his son so— they are only showing some of the stories are yall ok??
They are not legally liable if you have and allergy to peanuts and are exposed to peanuts at that specific smoothie place. In fact most Ice cream and smoothie places have specific signs that warn people that they are not a nut safe environment. Which means eat at your own risk and specifically tell the employees about the allergy to try and avoid these situations.
Did he forget that his ancestors were immigrants too?? Hmmm
hate that guy but was i the only one annoyed by the girl in blue?
I've would've thrown hands and tossed the entitled dad out of the store and possibly banned the jerk for what he did
PEOPLE PLS STOP BEING RACIST Make this year #KINDNESS Racism needs to stop
What I honestly don't understand is how the employees could've made such a careless mistake and instead of apologizing for making a life threatening mistake they proceed to provoke him more.
I worked in several restaurants and if a customer specifies an allergy you do everything you can to get the order right and avoid cross contamination, never fcked up once, but if I did fck up screaming back at my customer would be the last thing I'd do.
i would like to say that the attitude that the girls showed him in the beginning wasn't great either. Imagine asking for no peanut butter cuz your son was allergic. His son could've possibly died. I think this is more so a father's anger cuz his son was almost hurt. When he asked for the managers number they are supposed to give it to him. But instead they said we dont care Bye. If someone makes a mistake and almost hurts your child and says we dont care goodbye then how would you really feel. The only insult he gave at the beginning was calling them ignorant high school kids and they got mad.
Now calling them an immigrant loser and throwing the drink was wrong. But I also feel like them giving attitude did not help the situation at all. I used to work at wendy's as a shift manager and dealt with customers like him all the time.
If people sees this man on the streets they beat him up
If he had not mention the racist comments i would agree with him his child could off died
Lol the dad started this he ordered a Peanut Butter Smoothie without Peanut Butter but they decided to add it anyway, He fed it to his son who is allergic to peanuts, He started his Angry Behavior, his Angry Behavior is actually funny tbh ?