Crystal Wilsey used racial slurs, was fired, and later received donations via GiveSendGo
Executive summary
A viral video shows Crystal Wilsey, a Cinnabon employee, using the N-word and saying “I am racist,” after an on‑counter dispute with a Somali couple; the franchise owner fired her and a GiveSendGo fundraiser for Wilsey quickly attracted large sums — reporting ranges place the total from about $18,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the outlet and timing (examples: >$18K, >$20K, >$65K, >$90K, ~$100K) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Coverage shows competing narratives: opponents condemn Wilsey’s racist language and note donors’ hateful messages on the fundraiser page, while supporters cast her as a “hardworking white mom” targeted by customers and framed the campaign as relief for her living and legal costs [4] [5] [1].
1. Viral confrontation, firing, and the core facts
Video posted to TikTok captures Wilsey at a Cinnabon in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, repeatedly using the N-word, mocking a woman’s hijab, flipping the middle finger and declaring “I am racist”; franchise ownership terminated her employment after the clip circulated [4] [6] [2]. Reporting consistently identifies the customers as a Somali couple and dates the viral spread to early December 2025; outlets quote the store and observers saying the behavior was “completely unacceptable” [4] [2].
2. The GiveSendGo fundraiser: who set it up and what it says
A GiveSendGo page was launched by a man identified as Tom Hennessey (also spelled Hennessy in some reports), describing Wilsey as a “hardworking White mom” and alleging she was intimidated by the customers; the campaign’s stated purpose in several reports is to cover Wilsey’s living and legal costs [5] [4] [7]. The fundraiser’s description frames Wilsey as a victim of harassment and criticizes the franchise for firing her instead of banning the customers [5] [7].
3. How much money — and why figures differ across outlets
Reported totals vary widely by outlet and timestamp: early reports put the total above $18,000–$20,000 within two days of the video [1] [2] [8], other pieces list amounts from more than $65,000 to over $88,000 or $90,000, and some pieces report the campaign approaching or surpassing $100,000 [3] [7] [4] [5]. These discrepancies reflect rapid fundraising, outlets reporting at different times, and occasional rounding or headline framing; available sources do not provide a single definitive, up‑to‑the‑minute figure (not found in current reporting).
4. Donor messaging and platform dynamics
Multiple outlets note that some donations to the GiveSendGo page included comments endorsing Wilsey’s racist remarks and calling for deportation of Somali immigrants; that pattern echoes an earlier GiveSendGo fundraiser for another woman filmed using a racial slur, where supporters also left hateful messages [5] [4]. Coverage highlights that the campaign has functioned as a rallying point for grievance and xenophobic voices, with at least one outlet describing it as “a showcase of MAGA-aligned grievance politics and explicit, hateful xenophobia” [9] [5].
5. Supporters’ framing and media amplification
Conservative figures and social accounts have amplified the fundraiser and framed Wilsey as a wronged worker—coverage notes sharing by personalities such as Jack Posobiec and others, which likely contributed to spikes in donations and visibility [10] [7]. The campaign language (“hardworking White mom”) and organizer commentary explicitly invite a sympathetic, identity‑based response; that framing aligns with political grievance networks described in several reports [5] [9].
6. Open questions, legal and platform outcomes
Reports repeatedly state it “remains to be seen” whether and how much Wilsey will actually receive from GiveSendGo and whether the platform will moderate comments or restrict the campaign; some past GiveSendGo fundraisers have been later restricted, but current sources do not confirm final disbursement or platform action in this case [5] [4]. Available sources do not mention any legal charges arising from the incident; reporting focuses on employment termination, public reaction and online fundraising (not found in current reporting).
7. Why this matters: social media, accountability, and crowd funding
This episode illustrates how a brief on‑camera incident can trigger employer discipline, polarized public reaction, and immediate financial backing through ideologically aligned crowdfunding; donors’ comments and amplification by partisan figures turned a local firing into a flashpoint for broader culture‑war narratives [4] [9] [10]. Journalistic outlets differ in emphasis—some foreground the racist language and community harm, while others foreground claims of harassment of the employee—so readers should weigh both the recorded behavior and the competing interpretations offered by campaign organizers and supporters [4] [5].
Limitations: this analysis uses only the provided reports and cannot verify final GiveSendGo disbursements, any subsequent statements from GiveSendGo or Cinnabon beyond those cited, or any legal records beyond what these sources report (not found in current reporting).