FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ/FOX26) — Tasty Thai, a local Lao & Thai food restaurant is shutting its doors after receiving thousands of hate comments and death threats from people online and over the phone claiming the restaurant abuses dogs and sells dog meat.
According to Tasty Thai, the rumors started after a woman posted a video earlier this month on social media which falsely claimed animal abuse was allegedly tied to the establishment.
On the woman’s Facebook page she posted several videos claiming the restaurant was connected to a house next to it and stated, “As heartbreaking as it is, it makes more sense that they are eating the meat and selling the meat.”
David Rasavong, the Owner of Tasty Thai said he has never sold dog meat at his restaurant, and the woman made false claims against them because they are Asian-American.
It’s almost uncomfortable to even have to respond to that because it’s such a disgusting accusation,” he said “No absolutely not, just because we’re an Asian establishment doesn’t mean that we serve dog meat. It’s hard to say it out loud but it’s a no.
Rasavong said for the last two weeks his business has had an overwhelming amount of hate comments on social media, Yelp reviews, and death threats online and over the phone.
“It almost happened overnight a bit, it feels like because originally it was on a Monday where I got a couple of notifications and I thought we were just being pranked or something,” said Rasavong. “I thought someone was messing with us because it was similar comments about the treatment of dogs which is disgusting I don’t even like to repeat it.”
He said because of the numerous threats to his business, his employees, and his family he doesn’t feel it is safe anymore.
“That’s how we ultimately came to that decision because you don’t know what’s coming,” said Rasavong. “There was so much that has happened already…
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