MACON, Ga. (WGXA) -- Tater Jackson, a well-known server at Fincher's BBQ for over 20 years, announced his termination on Facebook and that announcement set many in the community into a frenzy.

"He always had a sunny disposition. Just a general good guy," one of his regulars says as dozens gathered in front of the restaurant in protest of Tater's dismissal, which many, including Tater, feel may have been seeded by racial motivation.

However, the restaurant's owner, Doug Fincher, tells another story.

"Race was no factor in any of that, like it's been made on Facebook," he says, though he says he won't get into why he was fired.

But Tater says that he was fired for throwing another coworker under the bus for stealing ribs.

"I'm not gonna spill bad on him," Fincher says. "He's trying to hurt me but, you know, that's life."

He adds that his employees have received threats and, "What I'm worried about is the safety of my employees so this needs to stop."

Fincher maintains that he wishes Tater no ill will. "I don't hate Tater. At all," he says. "There's just some things I can't tolerate."