Brooke Shields has slammed South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for “not caring” for workers at their restaurant in Colorado.
The 61-year-old actress is president of the Actors’ Equity Association, a labour union representing “about 80” of the former employees at Mexican eatery Casa Bonita, who unionised in April 2024 against the venture, which combines entertainment with patrons’ meals.
The restaurant is renowned for its unique additions, including a 30ft waterfall, caves and waterfalls, with the artistic employees of the venue taking on cliff diving as part of their job.
Those fighting against Casa Bonita had negotiations with the restaurant management, including Parker and Stone over “not just pay, but fundamental safety issues” - including “hypothermia and chlorine toxicity from the diving pool” and alleged groping from restaurant-goers - but they failed to reach an agreement.
Now Brooke has publicly spoken out about the restaurant, telling CNN: “It doesn’t take long to feel how disparaging it is when you visit a place and you see young people excited to perform at the top of their game doing these crazy stunts, or entertaining people … (and) you go personally see them not being cared for”.
According to the news outlet, the performer employees are asking for “a raise to bring them more in line with the servers, who they say make more.”
Actors’ Equity also said that while management have “made concessions at the bargaining table”, they have offered little “in return to improve current conditions and wages”.
Brooke added that she had personally visited the restaurant in March, but “the place is so big it took a while for management to realise we were there”.
During her visit, she hand delivered a letter from the performers her organisation represents, in which they “asked for better wages”.
But she acknowledged that it was a “slight ambush”, adding: “You try doing things respectfully, and then you’re not met with equal respect … so you have to resort to other tactics.”
In a statement, Casa Bonita said the restaurant values “all of our team members and their well-being”, adding: “As a policy we do not comment on ongoing labour negotiations.”
Parker and Stone purchased the restaurant five years ago, after being longtime fans of the venue.
However, the pair have “not attended one of the 14 bargaining sessions with Actors’ Equity”, according to Brooke via CNN.
