Cebu restaurant issues statement following 'altercation' between wait staff and LGBT+ personality Jude Bacalso

The Cebu restaurant, where an "altercation" took place between a wait staff and LGBT+ personality Jude Bacalso, has issued a statement.

On Facebook Monday, Ulli's Streets of Asia said it was "deeply concerned by the incident that happened this past Sunday," July 21.

"We have sat down with the server involved and the rest of the team to console and brief them following the altercation," Ulli's said as it assured its customers that "they are educating our people and people their welfare of utmost priority."

In their statement, Ulli's apologized to their guests and assured them that their "concerns are well noted."

"Ulli's Streets of Asia respects and celebrates people from all walks of life, including our LGBTQIA+ community. Discrimination has no place in our restaurant," said the restaurant located inside a mall.

Shortly after, Ulli's released a follow-up statement saying it "stands by our employee involved in the incident. He along with his teammates have our support."

"We aim to provide a safe and respectful environment for both our guests and our people. We are taking steps to better handle these situations moving forward," Ulli's said.

The restaurant's first statement has already been shared nearly 7K times, while the followup statement has been shared more than 3K times as of writing.

Cebu Twitter was all abuzz after a photo of LGBT+ personality Jude Bacalso allegedly berating an Ulli's wait staff made the rounds online. 

Bacalso explained to GMA News Online on the phone Tuesday that she actually asked the waiter if he wanted to sit down and relax. "He shook his head and remained standing," Bacalso said. "I didn't say 'stay there.' I also didn't demand."

Bacalso is under fire for allegedly berating the restaurant wait staff for calling her "sir."

Speaking to GMA News Online, Bacalso said she knew the wait staff made "an honest mistake."

"There was no malice. I knew there was no malice. So I took it as an opportunity to educate," she told GMA News Online.

It was while she was "giving gender sensitivity information to the waiter" that a netizen snapped a photo of the two.

Bacalso herself took to Facebook Monday to explain her side. 

She made sure to say sorry "to the rest of the staff who are disheartened by the way things have escalated, as well as to the customers present at that time."

"This is a huge chunk of humble pie that I must ingest, because I have erred," she added. "May we start here with, as the supervisor pointed out, an uphill path to reconciliation."

 In her statement, Bacalso said she had already met with Ulli's staff. Unfortunately, the waiter involved was not present.

 — LA, GMA Integrated News