Kansas City Officer Asked to Leave Olive Garden on His Birthday

What was meant to be a simple birthday lunch turned into a viral controversy for Kansas City Police Officer Michael Holsworth. On Sunday, Holsworth arrived at a local Olive Garden with his family, hoping to celebrate quietly. Instead, he says a hostess informed him he could not remain inside while wearing his department-issued firearm — a standard part of his uniform.

Initially confused, Holsworth thought it was a misunderstanding. But the employee allegedly doubled down, asking him to leave. With his family watching, the officer exited without incident, later describing the moment as humiliating.

“I didn’t want anyone else in uniform to feel singled out,” Holsworth wrote in a Facebook post explaining why he shared the experience.

Backlash and Olive Garden’s Response

The post quickly went viral, drawing outrage from thousands who questioned why a uniformed officer would be turned away from a family restaurant. As criticism mounted, Olive Garden issued a public apology, calling the incident a local misunderstanding.

Company spokesperson Rich Jeffers said the interaction was “unacceptable,” adding that Olive Garden president Dave George personally apologized to Holsworth.

While the apology was welcomed, the incident sparked a broader conversation about how law enforcement officers are treated in everyday public spaces — all triggered by a birthday lunch gone wrong.