Hooters Didn't Hire South Brunswick Woman Due To Dreadlocks: Lawsuit

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A South Brunswick woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that a local Hooters restaurant did not hire her because her hair is styled in dreadlocks.

Inayah Jones of Monmouth Junction filed her lawsuit on Oct. 5 in the Middlesex County Superior Court.

Jones submitted an online application for the job of a server at the Somerset Hooters on Sept. 12, 2022. She submitted another application in paper format the next month, according to the lawsuit.

In October, when she inquired about her application via text message, the manager told Jones he could hire her but there was “one problem,” the lawsuit said.

The manager told Jones that the company policy requires servers’ hair to be “natural and worn down, no braids or dreads.”

Jones told the manager that her hair was “natural and dreaded” and she would not “unlock her hair” to comply with the policy. She however offered to put her hair in an “upward style” and “make sure her hair is freshly retwist.”

The manager then told Jones to “read up on the policy change” because it allows servers to "wear locks...but you have to wear them near and down,” the lawsuit said.

Jones then went to report for work on Oct. 14, 2022, with her hair near and down, according to the lawsuit.

While she was completing her administrative paperwork in the kitchen, the general manager of the restaurant told the manager not to hire Jones because of her dreadlocks, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant discriminated against Jones based on “traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture, hair types and protective hairstyles.” New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits such discrimination, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, Jones suffered economic loss, harm to career, harm to reputation, emotional distress and other damages.

She is seeking full compensation for front pay, benefits and remuneration; compensatory and consequential damages; punitive damages; pre and post-judgment interest and attorney fees.

Hooters has not filed a response to the lawsuit yet. Patch had reached out to Hooters for a comment but hasn't received a response yet.

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com