Indy woman claims she was kicked out of bar for wearing Trump hat
Mar 16, 2025
Woman kicked out of bar for wearing Trump hat – News 8 at 11
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis woman says she was kicked out of a local bar for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. The bar says she was harassing an employee.
Elise Hensley told News 8 that she and her friends
went to popular Chatterbox jazz bar Friday night. They’ve gone to the bar several times, but this time, a few of them chose to wear hats supporting Pres. Donald Trump.
“We went up to the bar and before we could even get a word out or order a drink, he just looked at me and said, ‘No,'” Hensley said. “I said, ‘Excuse me.’ He said, ‘Absolutely not,’ he said, ‘Your hat. You need to leave right now.'”
Hensley said she left the bar. Soon after, she decided to go back inside and ask why she was kicked out.
She filmed the interaction and later posted the video to her Facebook. Her post went viral, and was soon shared by Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith.
“Hey, I have a question,” Hensley said in the video.
“No. We aren’t answering any questions,” a Chatterbox bartender said.
The video goes on to show the bartender repeatedly tell Hensley to leave due to her hat supporting Trump.
“We can call the police, or you can just leave,” another bartender said. Hensley left soon after, she said.
“I wore that hat because I do love our President of the United States,” Hensley said Sunday. “He is our president. I do appreciate that and I don’t think I find anything wrong with me wanting to wear a Trump hat because he is our president.”
Chatterbox did not respond to News 8’s request for an interview, but did release a statement via Instagram:
“On Friday, March 14th, a group of individuals visited Chatterbox and intentionally misgendered and harassed a Chatterbox employee, resulting in them being asked to leave by our staff. They then continued verbally assaulting our patrons and staff, threatened our establishment, and returned to record a video which has not been posted on multiple social media platforms. The Chatterbox is home to a diverse group of staff and patrons. We do not tolerate dehumanizing or disrespectful language or symbolism in our establishment. We have a right, by law, to refuse service to anyone who disrupts our business. We look forward to continue being a home for people who love music and appreciate our community. We would also like to state that there has been additional misinformation spread that Sean Baker is in the video. Sean Baker is a beloved musician in our community, not a bartender at Chatterbox.”
Hensley claims she did not misgender or harass anyone at the bar.
News 8 asked Hensley about Chatterbox’s legal right to refuse service to them.
“They probably have every right to kick me out,” Hensley said. “If you don’t want me at your bar, that is what it is. But also, the man that was with me was an African American male. He was wearing a Trump hat.”
...read more read less