Waiter Mohamed Kotbi, who has worked at the Waldorf-Astoria since 1984, recently filed a religious and racial discrimination suit against the hotel for making him go by names like "John" so as not to "scare" the guests. And apparently Osama bin Laden's death has just made things worse. He tells the Observer that on Monday one of his coworkers said, "Oh, I heard they got your brother." When he asked for clarification, the coworker said, "Your boss, bin Laden!" For the record, Kotbi's brother is an NYPD officer.
Kotbi said of the latest incident, "It got to me. But I didn't say a word. I just went outside and had a cigarette." Problems first started two days after 9/11, when he was asked to wear a nametag reading "John" for a memorial service for 1,500 employees and family members of Bear Stearns. The name change became more permanent. He explained to his supervisor that it hurt him, and that he had friends who died in the attacks. His supervisor said, "We know you do—your friends, the hijackers!'"
Kotbi's father used to be the governor of Casablanca, but Kotbi was adopted by a foster family from Indiana after his mother died because his father thought it would be a better opportunity for him. He began working at the Waldorf when he was 18 (he is now 45), and is a member of the elite banquet staff. But he said, "My whole life became occupied with this," and eventually he started skipping work on days there had been terrorist attacks, just to avoid the harassment. Sorry, Jon Stewart, but it looks like you'll have to wait a while before those positive feelings toward Muslims kick in with Joe Sixpack.
