Two employees at an Antwerp bowling alley dismissed after antisemitic message targeting Jewish customers appeared on a screen; company issues apology, condemning incident and emphasizing its commitment to inclusivity.
Five young Jewish men wearing kippahs fell victim to an antisemitic incident this week at a bowling alley in central Antwerp, near the city’s Jewish Quarter.|
The company issued a formal apology and immediately fired two employees involved in the incident, who were also found to have expressed support for terrorism on social media.
In addition to the antisemitic label, the employees ignored the kippah-wearing customers throughout their stay. They served all other customers except for the Jewish group. Belgian media reported that this was not the first time such an incident had occurred. Last Passover, one of the employees was seen wearing a T-shirt with the word “PALESTINE” printed in French and Arabic, which also prompted a complaint.
Tzvi Grosskopf, a community activist in Antwerp, worked with the company to demand immediate action. He explained that the Belgian Jewish organization JID, which combats antisemitism, contacted the company about the incident. As a result, the company fired the employees and issued an apology, stating: “The employees involved were dismissed immediately.”
The company said in a statement: “We are shocked and disappointed by the incident that occurred at our Antwerp location, during which two employees acted in a racist and antisemitic manner. We offer our sincere apologies to anyone who felt hurt or excluded as a result. This behavior is completely inconsistent with our company values. We place great importance on ensuring that everyone feels welcome and safe at our venues—always and everywhere.”
The company further stated: “After learning about the incident, we took immediate action. The employees involved were dismissed on the spot. The rest of the Antwerp staff is now undergoing a thorough review regarding this incident. Racist or discriminatory behavior is absolutely unacceptable in our company. We take this matter very seriously and are acting decisively.”
