Restaurant Calls Cops on Man in Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirt

There are several signs taped on the front door of Niki's West restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. One reminds customers that if they're barefoot or have curlers in their hair, they won't be served. There are three separate notifications that tank tops aren't allowed. And in the middle of that display is a neatly typed notice that Niki's is a "Family Establishment" with "Modest Attire Required."

Unfortunately, the restaurant seems to have decided that shirts supporting breast cancer awareness are less welcome than a set of hot rollers, calling the police on a customer who refused to strip out of his pink tee.

On Saturday, Brian Studdard drove from Atlanta to Birmingham to celebrate his father's 99th birthday at the restaurant, but the celebration was interrupted by a hostess who confronted him about his shirt. According to WBRC, Studdard was wearing a pink t-shirt with a line drawing of a pair of breasts and the slogan "Breast Matters." He told the news station that he earned the shirt after finishing a five-mile walk to support a friend who was fighting breast cancer. "One of my best friends died a few months ago from breast cancer," he said. "One of my sisters is a breast cancer survivor, so it means a lot."

Studdard said that the hostess told him that more than one server was offended by the shirt and thought it was inappropriate. A manager offered him a shirt to change into, but—since the restaurant doesn't sell its own merch—he questioned where it came from and said he'd prefer not to wear a stranger's clothing.

In an attempt to compromise, Studdard offered to turn the shirt inside out. The manager didn't think that was an acceptable solution, and called the police instead. The cops came, wrote a report, and told Studdard that, if he returned to the restaurant, he would be arrested for trespassing. (But other than that, how was your dad's birthday?)

"In my opinion, someone who finds this shirt inappropriate is truly uninformed," Studdard told WBRC. The internet seems to agree with him. The Facebook page for Niki's West has been flooded with one-star reviews and angry comments toward the restaurant's management. "I hope you are as offended by cancer as you are by a t-shirt," one commenter wrote. "I guess the families at your 'family restaurant' don't get breast cancer," another said.

READ MORE: A Mexican Restaurant Allegedly Kicked Out Patrons for Supporting Trump

Niki's West's reaction is surprising, especially since several not-exactly-family restaurants have longstanding commitments to breast cancer charities. Hooters has teamed up with The V Foundation for Cancer Research and, over the past decade, its "Give a Hoot" campaign has raised more than $400,000 for the cause. The Twin Peaks breastaurant chain has also held fundraisers and events to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity and once sold pink "Save Second Base" t-shirts that are probably also unwelcome at Niki's West.

Lieutenant Sean Edwards of the Birmingham Police Department told MUNCHIES that a report was made, but that no other actions were taken by the department. MUNCHIES has reached out to Niki's West for comment.