A Change.org petition calling on more food allergy measures in California has been launched after influencer Dominique Brown recently passed away after experiencing an allergic reaction to holiday food served at an event in downtown Los Angeles.
BoxLunch, a retailer that specializes in fandom merchandise, hosted the event on Thursday. Brown was 34.
“Our beloved Dominique ‘Domo’ Brown tragically lost her life due to a severe allergic reaction at an event + food establishment in Los Angeles. Despite informing staff of her life-threatening allergy, she was served a dish containing the allergen. The establishment lacked critical life-saving tools like epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPens) and trained staff to respond effectively,” the petition stated.
The petition calls on California lawmakers to:
- Make EpiPens available at all establishments serving food, including restaurants and event venues
- Train staff to help them recognize and treat allergic reactions
- Real-time ingredient transparency, including clear communication protocols between chefs, servers, and patrons to ensure all ingredients in a dish are disclosed, particularly when recipes or preparation methods change.
The petition has 16,227 signatures so far. Marcus Medley, who started the petition and was Brown’s best friend for 14 years, said the response has been “unbelievably positive” so far.
“Food allergies are serious- life or death serious – but for far too long, they’ve been treated almost as if they’re a preference. It’s similar to someone wanting a burger without ketchup or a drink without ice. Domo’s story isn’t unique, and that’s why we want justice and change. People should be able to eat out without fear that their next meal could be their last,” Medley told KTLA.
According to a representative, BoxLunch is currently arranging grief counseling for its team and members of the BoxLunch collective, the company’s ambassador program. Measures were also taken to ensure the event venue was aware of all known allergens and an investigation into the matter has been launched.
The representative also noted that during the event, 911 was called immediately, and a DJ made two announcements, asking if anyone had an EpiPen.
“We are devastated by the passing of Dominique Brown, a beloved member of the BoxLunch Collective, who suffered a medical emergency at an event hosted by BoxLunch Thursday in Los Angeles,” the company told KTLA in a statement. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we will do everything we can to support them and the members of the BoxLunch Collective and our team during this painful time.”
Brown, a beloved influencer within the Disney community, co-founded Black Girls Disney with Mia Von in 2018. The two wanted to create a welcoming community for women of color who love the brand’s films and theme parks.
Medley described her as a “magical” person.
“Dominique was just as magical as her persona, HellooDomo. She wore her heart on her sleeve and let you know it. She and Mia Von inspired an entire generation of black women with Black Girl Disney. Her legacy is already stamped – there will never be another Dominique Brown,” Medley said. And we want to honor her legacy, as well as millions of others living with food allergies or who have lost a loved one due to them, with action – legislation that requires preventive and life-saving measures at all establishments that serve food.”
Other Disney influencers and fans of Brown’s content reacted to the news on social media over the weekend.
“Thank you for loving everyone unconditionally. Thank you for being so accepting of others. You were the best person and I’m so sad we have to go on without you. I love you forever,” one Instagram user said.
Brown’s brother, Patrick Ramos, shared the news about her passing in the comments of her final Instagram post.
According to her Instagram account, Brown was a resident of Long Beach. Medley told KTLA that he and Brown attended Millikan High School in Long Beach and Grambling State University in Louisiana together. Brown also worked at the LAPD in forensics.
More information about the petition can be found here.
