Lawsuit alleging discrimination at Charlotte Bojangles can move forward, judge says
A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit alleging monkey noises and racial discrimination at Charlotte Bojangles locations to move forward.
Roslyn McManus, a Black former employee, accused the Charlotte-born fast-food chicken chain of discriminatory practices and civil rights violations in her 2023 lawsuit.
The then-54-year-old said a white area director made monkey noises and gestures around an African-American employee and another employee scribed a message — “Support Trump 2020” — in biscuit flour. She also alleged pay disparities between her and less experienced white employees, racially derogatory comments and retaliation after she reported her concerns.
After she reported her concerns and wrote in an email that she felt she had no other option but to file a lawsuit, her managers printed out the email, showed it to others and laughed at it, the lawsuit says. Her Bojangles supervisor then removed her from the schedule and locked her out of the company system. She took that to mean she was terminated after engaging in a protected activity, her lawsuit contends.
Bojangles’ attorneys more than two years ago filed a motion to throw the case out. Court delays pushed a hearing on that motion to Wednesday, when Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Susan Rodriguez ruled that the majority of McManus’s claims will move forward.
READ MORE: Bojangles accused of racism after Black NC worker allegedly ridiculed, denied promotions
Discrimination claims at Bojangles
Rodriguez, the first woman to serve as a district judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, ordered McManus’ claims that Bojangles retaliated against her after she engaged in protected activity, fired her in a discriminatory manner, gave her disparate benefits and created a hostile work environment will move forward in Charlotte’s federal court.
The judge dismissed McManus’ claims that Bojangles managers intentionally and negligently inflicted emotional distress and dismissed part of her claim that was based on North Carolina state law. She also said, citing case law, that the political, pro-Trump message written in flour can’t be applied to McManus’ discriminatory claims.
“Today’s ruling is a significant step forward for our client,” McManus’ attorney, Anthony Burts, said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer. “We now look forward to discovery, where the evidence will further illuminate the facts underlying this case.”
Bojangles’ attorneys declined to comment.
This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Lawsuit alleging discrimination at Charlotte Bojangles can move forward, judge says."
