A parody account for Tin Tan Tacos posted a racially insensitive tweet on Thursday discouraging people to eat at Azia and Panda Express due to the coronavirus. The Tweet has since been removed. 

The account with the username Tin_Tans_WSU wrote, “You might get the coronavirus from Panda Express or Azia, but not at Tin Tans.”

Adan Barrera, Tin Tan’s owner, said he did not know about the account until Friday. He said it was confusing that someone would make an account for his restaurant and then go on to make a racist comment. 

“There are no ties to Tin Tan Tacos in any way, shape or form,” Barrera said. 

The parody account was taken down Friday afternoon. 

“This account has been going on long enough that we might even be looking at possibly pressuring legal action,” the Tin Tan Tacos Facebook account posted later on Friday, 

Similar cases of mistreatment toward those of Asian descent have arisen at WSU since the beginning of the COVID-19 virus.

WSU President Kirk Schulz and Interim Provost Bryan Slinker sent a note to all faculty, staff and students at the beginning of February stating the university will not allow any mistreatment toward people of Asian descent in light of COVID-19.

People who feel discriminated against due to their race, color or national origin can file complaints with the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Investigation. The complaints will be reviewed and investigated as neccessary, Amanda Beardslee, executive assistant to the vice president for marketing and communication, wrote in an email.

There will be a second email to all faculty, staff and students to reiterate what the previous message said about maintaining an inclusive community, Beardslee wrote.

The parody account generated several comments from students and other businesses. 

The Twitter account for Azia tweeted, “don’t stop eating at tin tans whoever tweeted that is doing them dirty.”

Another account tweeted at President Schulz about the account, “@WSU_Cougar_Pres this is racist. Do something.”

The Daily Evergreen reached out to the account for comment but the administrator of the account did not respond.