Credit: Stephanie Diani/Bravo
Leva Bonaparte is firing back after firing two of her Southern Hospitality employees.
The restaurant owner, who canned Lucía Peña for drinking on the job – and Lucía’s friend Mia Alario for sticking up for her – raced to Instagram to explain what happened.
In the episode, Mia claimed many employees drank on the job, though only Lucía was fired. Some viewers were upset with Leva’s decision, and praised Mia for standing up to her.
“Don’t drink on the job,” declared Leva in her Instagram Stories, via @queensofbravo, “as in drinking in the freezer but also don’t accuse me of things that don’t exist — In reality ‘Maternity Leave Gate’ Lucia has had a full time day job for years … so she didn’t have to work late nights – bringing her back for more shifts.”
“In reference to wanting her to have the platform for the show and have a stronger chance to be cast on the show and strong presence on it as an afro Latina singer mother was the reference. Not brought her back to waitressing after having a child,” Leva added.”
The boss said she found Lucía drinking after “multiple emails, meetings and warnings to all staff since January of 2023.” The emails, according to Leva, reminded employees about the agreements they signed over the drinking policy, and reiterated that “drinking is an immediate fire.”
“Sadly Lucia was terminated with several other staff for this since. Mia wanted a scene and she got her moment, and also lost her job for it,” Leva continued. “So yes after making space for her to work more after going to work full time at Lulu Lemon and putting her back in the mix in a heavy way and in the front line to be cast on this show I deserved an apology.”
Leva claimed Mia’s response was not a “stand for women” but the “opposite,” because Mia “malign[ed] a female business owner that has rules and business and staff to protect.”
“Just because you are [on] TV you don’t get to break the rules. Get it straight.” she said. “Some PPL got caught acting a fool and thought TV would save them.”
Image credit: @levabonaparte/Instagram via @queensofbravo/Instagram
She also dropped a message from another employee.
“We weren’t allowed to drink on the job SINCE DAY ONE!” wrote the server. “First rule we learned at orientation. A bartender tried to do it at the soft opening and was fired the next day.”
Leva explained of the post, “One of our OG services chiming in – things servers sign off on and know full well!”
Image credit: @levabonaparte/Instagram via @queensofbravo/Instagram
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