Brooke Shields revealed she used a fake name during a recent visit to Casa Bonita, a Colorado restaurant co-owned by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, to advocate for the establishment's performers. Shields, who serves as president of the Actors' Equity Association, detailed the incident in an interview with CNN.
Shields visited the restaurant in March, posing as a patron under an assumed identity, with the intention of delivering a letter concerning wages and safety conditions for the venue's live performers. The union has represented approximately 80 of Casa Bonita's performers, including cliff divers, costumed characters, and magicians, since the beginning of 2024. The Actors' Equity Association has filed at least seven labor complaints against the restaurant with the National Labor Relations Board, citing "retaliation and refusal to bargain."
According to Shields, the performers are paid about $10 less per hour than the restaurant's servers, who also receive tips. She further noted that performers lack adequate security despite being required to interact with patrons. "It's just so disheartening because they're putting their lives at risk, and they're not being looked after," Shields told CNN. She also stated that Parker and Stone have not attended any of the 14 bargaining sessions held with Actor's Equity, describing the communication from them as "radio silence."
Casa Bonita, located in Lakewood, Colorado, first opened in 1974. Parker and Stone acquired the restaurant for a reported $3.1 million in 2021, saving it from bankruptcy. The pair have stated they have invested approximately $50 million in renovations. They previously expressed their affection for the restaurant in a 2003 "South Park" episode and spoke of their desire to restore its former appeal.
Casa Bonita's management issued a statement to CNN, asserting that they "value all of our team members and their well-being" and that, as a policy, they do not comment on ongoing labor negotiations. Parker and Stone have not publicly responded to Shields' remarks, and a representative for them did not immediately reply to a request for comment.