Nilson Dos Santos, a Sydney resident, says he was denied a barista job because he is black.
During an interview with Steven Hu, the owner of a cafe called Forbes and Burton, Dos Santos was reportedly told that Hu's white customers wouldn't want "to have their coffee made by black people" because black people aren't "part of the coffee culture."
"We need to offer good service at this café, and I think the coffee culture is more about white people," Hu allegedly said. After the remarks went viral, Hu reportedly defended himself by saying he was "just being honest."
Dos Santos, 39, apparently asked the customers who were present at the time of the interview whether they would be okay with him making their coffee. Many of the customers staged a walkout with Dos Santos to show support.
"When you're looking for a job, you're already very sensitive and emotional," Dos Santos told Australia's Special Broadcasting Service. "I wasn't angry. I was sad. I was deeply disappointed." Australia's Fair Work Ombudsman is now investigating Hu.