Three-year-old Victoria Wilcher was asked to leave a KFC in Jackson, Mississippi because her facial scars were “disturbing our customers,” an employee told her grandmother, Kelly Mullins.
Mullins told WAPT Victoria cried the entire car ride home. She said:
When we go to a store, she doesn’t even want to get out (of the car). She’s 3 years old and she’s embarrassed about what she looks like. She’s embarrassed and I hate it because she shouldn’t be. It ain’t her fault.
Wilcher sustained her scars after she was viciously attacked by three pit bulls, according to Victoria’s Victories, the Facebook page created to raise money to pay her medical bills.
Here’s what you need to know about this brave little girl:
1. Several of Her Injuries Are Permanent, Including Partial Facial Paralysis
(Facebook/Victoria’s Victories)
According to Victoria’s Victories, Welcher lost her right eye as a result of the attack. She also suffered a broke nose, jaw, cheek bones and right eye socket. Welcher can no longer move the right side of her face. Her bottom jaw has been reconstructed, but she has to wait until her bones grow in to continue with surgery. She also sees a speech and swallowing therapist weekly.
2. Her Family Is Struggling Financially
(Facebook/Victoria’s Victories)
Victoria’s family is struggling to pay her medical bills. According to the GoFundMe page started for the family, also called Victoria’s Victories, the Wilcher’s insurance company refuses to pay for the majority of Victoria’s medications and the feeding tube and $550/month formula Victoria uses to eat. The page has been live for a month and has already raised roughly $112,000 of its $200,000 goal.
3. KFC Issued a Public Apology
(Facebook/Victoria’s Victories)
KFC’s Facebook page was flooded with comments from outraged patrons vowing to never eat at the restaurant again because of the way Wilcher was treated. The restaurant never issued this statement in a post, but it responded to an angry poster by saying:
As soon as we were notified of this report on Friday, we immediately began an investigation, as this kind of hurtful and disrespectful action would not be tolerated by KFC. Regardless of the outcome of our investigation, we have apologized to Victoria’s family and are committed to assisting them. The company is making a $30,000 donation to assist with her medical bills. The entire KFC family is behind Victoria. We hope you will reconsider.
According to Victoria’s Victories, the fast food giant has not yet reached out to the family.
4. There Are Fake Pages for Victoria Online
(Facebook/Victoria’s Victories)
Victoria’s Victories posted a warning to supporters saying a fake page has been opened under Victoria’s name and that the page scammed its photo from Victoria’s Victories. The page, simply entitled Victoria Wilcher, links to porn sites, according to whistle-blowers on the fake page. Victoria’s Victories has encouraged users to report the page to Facebook so it may be taken down.
5. People Have Taken to Social Media to Show Support for the Wilcher Family
Aside from Victoria’s Victories, people have used Twitter to show their support for Victoria Wilcher. Here are some of the tweets you should see:
Shame on #KFC employee who said this to Victoria Wilcher "a beautiful little girl, 3 years old" pic.twitter.com/TAvqvE9SRa
— Muhanad Alhassoun (@Muhanad97) June 15, 2014
Damn this story just broke my heart. This poor little girl deserves so much better than that. I am speechless. http://t.co/JrZq1nItX5
— D-Train on 96Krock (@Donavin410) June 16, 2014
Just read the story about Victoria Wilcher. NEVER stepping foot in a @kfc again. Ever. #terrible
— Abigail (@AbigailMSU) June 14, 2014
Tonight my prayers go to you Victoria. You are Gods child and his beautiful SPECIAL creation. #victoriasvictories ❤️ pic.twitter.com/k5eVBlhzUf
— Leo Simone (@QueenLeoSimone) June 17, 2014
