Aisha “Pinky” Cole, who is famously known as the founder of popular vegan chain Slutty Vegan and lounge Bar Vegan, is making headlines again — but not for her bustling businesses. Instead, Cole is now being sued by a former employee for alleged unpaid wages and withheld tips.
It is now being reported that a lawsuit was filed back on November 11 in a federal court in Atlanta, Georgia. The plaintiff has been identified as Morgan Georgia, who claims she worked for Cole at Bar Vegan in Atlanta’s Ponce City Market for two and a half years.
In her lawsuit, Georgia also names Cole’s two co-owners, Aaron Mattison and Jason Crane, plus the business itself. There are also two other current/former employees who have joined the lawsuit. They’ve been identified as Amber Abney and Kandus LeBlanc.
Georgia’s accusations against the three owners include them allegedly paying employees below minimum wage and allegedly demanding 25% of employees’ tips. Georgia claims they told workers, “25% of the tips go to the house. That is our policy. If you don’t like it, find another place to work.”
Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Pulled From ‘Today’ Show After Employee Sues Her For Alleged Unpaid Wages & Withheld Tips
Since news of the lawsuit made headlines, Slutty Vegan founder Aisha “Pinky” Cole — who was set to appear on the ‘TODAY’ Show on Thursday, January 12 — has now revealed that producers cancelled her segment. She took to Instagram to leave a lengthy caption addressing the lawsuit on unpaid wages and withheld tips, plus her segment cancelation.
Cole wholly wrote:
“Since I was a kid, I have only operated with integrity. I don’t lie, I don’t steal and more importantly, I DON’T PLAY WITH PEOPLE’S MONEY. Maybe it’s the Caribbean in me, but God won’t bless you when you operate in a fraudulent spirit.
This week, I was named in a lawsuit for one of my companies, Bar Vegan, alongside my partners, over alleged unpaid wages from one employee. Again, ALLEGED. Up until this point, I was not familiar with this ordeal or the employee, because I don’t run day to day operations at Bar Vegan. But because it’s a SEXY STORY to make a community leader look like a bad guy, this has become headline news.
What do I gain withholding someone’s hard earned money when my blessings overflow EVERYDAY? When I’m helping people EVERYDAY! When I’m using my resources to put people on EVERYDAY.. employees included! My life’s work is in service, and this negativity don’t match my name.
The people who know me, know I ONLY operate in integrity, so this is a wicked narrative especially when this is nothing more than an allegation. My lawyers have advised me not to comment on this, but now my reputation is being compromised and I’m being removed from an opportunity that I worked my entire life for.
At the end of the day, my name means more to me than any money that could EVER go in my bank account- and I will NEVER let anybody destroy that. To get a call that I was removed from tomorrows show because they don’t want to be involved in the storylines, is bizarre to me, but all good.
That’s the price you pay when you decide to be a boss. Double edged sword. This was a big moment for my career, but God has other plans.
So news reporters, you happy now?y’all can stop calling me, here is your answer. BUT make sure you highlight all the good I’m doing while you’re fishing for clicks.”
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