Couple outraged by ‘Jungle Fever’ comment left on stub by valet parking

Sam and Candea Aarons have been together for 13 years, and have probably experienced a lot of looks and stares by some, due them being an interracial couple, but what they received on New Year's was probably one of the most shocking.

According to the NY Daily News the Georgia couple started out 2014 with a reminder that racism still exists. While celebrating New Year's Day with a nice meal, U.S. Army sergeant major Sam Aarons, and his wife Candea got the shock of their lives, when the words "jungle fever" was written across their valet ticket, after dinner.

The hurt couple expressed their emotions with Columbus news station, WTVM:

"I was upset, but more disappointed. More disappointed that this is 2014 and we still have individuals out there who still have these beliefs," Sam Aarons said.

Sam just recently returned to the states after serving in Kuwait. He took his wife out to Spondivits restaurant in East Point, GA where the lovely couple enjoyed seafood, after a full fun day of shopping.

The valet parking driver who parked their car was allegedly African American, and Sam noted that the man seemed pretty nice.

"I was really pleased with the service, I gave him a good tip, and then we left."

According to the site, when the couple got home that's when they noticed the offensive note left on their key ring. The ticket had "jungle fever" written on it. If you want to define the word, "jungle fever" it is a derogatory way to describe interracial relationships, if you ask film director Spike Lee, who was the creator of the 1991 hit movie Jungle Fever.

The film features a successful African American, Wesley Snipes who has an affair with his Italian secretary, Annabella Sciorra. As friends and family members find out about the love affair, the couple faces racial discrimination, and rejection.

WSBTV Photo Credit:

"The boldness. To put something like this on a card, attach it to your customer's key chain in such a way that they are sure it is not going to fall off, and that they are actually going to get this piece of paper and read it," Candea stated. "Who does that, January 1, 2014, who does that?"

Valets and waiters usually do make notes on tickets, to remember which customers they are tending to. But it seems that some workers are becoming careless with the phrases, and offensive words they leave.

Out of the 13 years they have been together, the couple feels they have been targets of discrimination, and say they have never been labeled in such a way.

"To me those words were racially motivated," Candea said in an interview with News One.

A statement was made by Spondivits restaurant Chef Glenn Gane, saying "Spondivits does not tolerate racial speech of any kind."

According to WSB-TV the company APS, which hired the unidentified man has also fired him. Although the man has lost his job, Candea thinks he should suffer more punishment. The couple are now seeking the guidance from attorneys.

"I was unprepared and I was unaware racism is alive and well," Candea says.