Nothing about this article implies any of this is OK. Lol. Anything this article implies that reflects kindly on Ellen, is sarcastic. The statements that are critical of her and her staff speak for themselves.  In short, the article is critizing her not defending her...

I can almost guarantee you that Burger King doesn't have a policy to discriminate or to just downright be an asshole to any of its customers.  They might be the "big, bad corporate jerks" in this deal but the dude was a dick all on his own.  He made that choice, not Burger King.

You couldn't see the reflection in the first couple seasons but its been there for a while.  Maybe since season 3?