Laguna Beach Restaurant Manager Under Fire For Asking Only Black Family To Eat Outside

A hotel manager of a Laguna Beach resort is facing backlash on social media after he was filmed asking a black family seated inside one of the hotel's restaurants to sit outside for no reason.

Maria Baietti, one of the family members, took to Facebook to share video footage of the incident along with a brief of the events that unfolded before she pulled out her cellphone and started recording.

According to Baiette, she and her family members went to the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach to grab lunch and drinks at one of the resort's three restaurants and requested to be seated inside as the outside section did not have any umbrellas to provide shade. She noted that shortly after taking a seat, the manager on duty, identified as Timothy Ward, told their group that they would have to sit outside citing hotel rules.

At first she thought the hotel was following COVID-19 guidelines and they were being asked to leave to abide by social distancing and face-mask norms but she was wrong.