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'No Tip' Server Hasn't Donated Anything To Wounded Warriors Yet
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 5, 2013
Modified Dec 5, 2013
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 5, 2013
Modified Dec 5, 2013
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A month ago, waitress Dayna Morales was a hero of sorts, standing up against a bigoted customer who denied her a tip because she was gay. She received an outpouring of tips from supporters, and promised to donate them to the Wounded Warriors Project. Now, it seems that she lied about the incident—and possibly about donating money to the wounded veterans non-profit.
Morales' receipt, which was posted on Have A Gay Day's Facebook page, showed no tip on a $93.55 meal with the message, "I'm sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle and how you live your life." She told the Star-Ledger last month that she was donating thousands in tips to the Wounded Warriors Project, and her employer, Gallop Asian Bistro, said that they would match the donations.
However, a week later, the family she apparently served showed their copy of the receipt and a credit statement suggesting they actually tipped about 20% on the meal. And then old acquaintances and ex-co-workers said she had a history of lying, claiming her home was seriously damaged during Hurricane Sandy (it wasn't), that she had cancer (she didn't), and that, as a Marine, she was injured in Afghanistan (she was never in Iraq or Afghanistan). Morales also allegedly was dishonorably discharged from the Marines for missing drills.
Today, Bridgewater Patch reports, "[A]s of Wednesday, the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit that supports veterans returning from overseas duty, could not confirm Morales had made any donations. A Wounded Warrior representative checking for donations by her name and the ZIP codes for Bridgewater, where the restaurant is located, and Bedminster, where Morales said she lives, was unable to find any matching donations. The donations may have been made from a different ZIP code, or by a third-party, the representative said."
Gallop Asian Bistro says Morales is not working on the current employee schedule as they investigate the claims.
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veterans
wounded warriors project
dayna morales
gallop asian bistro
no tip scandal
no tip
lying
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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