A former Cinnabon employee at the center of a viral discrimination video in Wisconsin has denied allegations of bias, using his son, whom he describes as a “person of color,” as a defense.
Crystal Wilsey, 43, has a lengthy criminal record spanning two decades with multiple offenses. In a questionable claim, she suggested that her son’s darker skin is a result of a medical condition, misapplying an outdated term for Black individuals.
Wilsey lost her job after a video circulated on TikTok showing her engaging in a hateful tirade against a Somali couple at an Ashwaubenon store.
In the video, she repeatedly used racial slurs against the couple and openly declared her racist beliefs.
Despite backlash, Wilsey has defended her behavior online, and a fundraiser supporting her has amassed $110,000 so far.
In a TikTok video, she mentioned her blended family and stressed her son’s racial identity, saying, “P.S. On the racism side, if you look at my Facebook from 2010, you’ll see that…”
Wilsey also recounted that a health issue caused her skin to darken, referring to Addison’s disease, a rare condition impacting the adrenal glands, which can lead to skin pigmentation changes.
Legal troubles for Wilsey go back nearly 25 years, with multiple charges, including child endangerment and drug possession. Most recently, she faced charges in February 2022 in Ohio after a traffic stop.
Her history includes various arrests for offenses such as disorderly conduct and driving under the influence, indicating a pattern of legal issues.
Following her termination, two Somali individuals were blamed for her racist comments, leading to a fundraiser on her behalf that argues Cinnabon should have supported their employee instead.
The donation page portrays Wilsey as a victim of harassment by the Somali customers, saying, “We will not let this situation stand,” and encourages further support for her.
Wilsey responded to critics on TikTok, defending her actions and suggesting the altercation escalated due to provocation from the couple. She argued that defending herself does not equate to racism and insisted she was merely reacting to previous circumstances.
