Bardstown restaurant says it received flood of complaints for flying Ukraine flag

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- A chain restaurant in Bardstown replaced one of the Texas flags above its front door with a Ukraine flag, and it apparently led to a flood of backlash.

In a Facebook post Sunday, Colton's Steak House & Grill — on Granite Drive in Bardstown — said its phone rang off the hook Saturday with people calling to complain.

"... People start sending me screenshots and reading hateful sentiments to me from some local Facebook groups," the post said. "Shortly after that people are calling the store asking me why we replaced the American flag."

However, General Manager Ben Ashlock, who wrote the post, said that an American flag wasn't replaced. Typically, the restaurant said it displays two state of Texas flags on the front of the building.

“We've had those two Texas flags up there as a theme for so long I didn't think for one second that somebody would see one of those replaced with the Ukrainian flag and think that somehow that meant we were unpatriotic or un-American,” Ashlock said.

Ashlock claims some argued the war “isn’t real,” striking a cord with the man who adopted a son from Ukraine and still has friends there.

“I'll check on them every day," Ashlock said. "I mean, every day and ... they're so discouraged over there right now.”

Flying the flag was simply meant as a kind gesture, he said.

“Saying, ‘Hey, we see you. We see what you're going through. We're worried about you. We’re concerned for you.'”

After much of the backlash, the other Texas flag was replaced with an American flag to "eliminate any further confusion."

"I regret that Makayla, who was answering the phone, had to bear the brunt of the anger from people on the other end," the Facebook post read. "I would have loved to speak to each person, but it would not have been fair to everyone here at the time dining with us."

The restaurant said it received some words of support as well and appreciates anyone who reached out.

"I don’t really know how to end this post. I’m grateful. I’m hurt. I’m hopeful. I’m discouraged," the post written by Ashlock said. "And one thing I’ll always be is honest with you. And honestly, I wish we treated each other better behind keyboards."

Ashlock added that he plans to keep the Ukraine flag flying so long as the war continues.

"I hope the Ukrainian flag comes down tomorrow," Ashlock said. "Because if my friends stop suffering and an occupying army pulls out of a sovereign nation, I'd be more than happy to go back to two Texas flags up there and say that the suffering is over or at least on on the mend. ... But we're not there."