Jersey Shore Restaurant Responds To Hate Speech That Customer Says Occurred There

ASBURY PARK, NJ — An Asbury Park restaurant where a customer said a man called him a derogatory homophobic slur weighed in on the alleged incident, and said it does not tolerate hate speech or discrimination.

This happened Sunday at Asbury Ale House: A photographer who lives in Asbury Park, who goes by the professional name Respectfully Ryan, said he was sitting sitting outside at Asbury Ale House having a drink with a friend, whose dog had recently died.

He said another customer, an older man, sitting two tables away from them, said to him: "Would you shut your mouth already? You f-----. Nobody wants to hear your voice."

The photographer, identified by NJ.com as Ryan Edelson, took out his phone and recorded the interaction with the man that followed, which he posted on his Facebook page.

The man being recorded eventually got up and left the restaurant. The restaurant said it asked the man to leave and has banned him from returning.

Asbury Ale House said it stands by the photographer.

"What happened to Ryan at Asbury Ale House was absolutely unacceptable, appalling and not something anyone should ever have to experience," the restaurant said in a long post on its Instagram and Facebook accounts. "Our staff was in complete shock ... Since then we've spoken directly to Ryan to check in, express our heartfelt apologies and make sure he has everything he needs — especially as he takes the steps to involve law enforcement, which we fully support."

Edelson contacted Asbury Park Police about the incident, NJ.com reported.