The Taco Wire: Bishop Apologizes to Ariana Grande For ‘Taco Bell’ Joke; Post-Katrina Taco Trucks; Of Course Worldwide Tacos Is Real

Welcome to The Taco Wire. Each week, we serve you a roundup of stories on all things tacos and the universe of Mexican food that make headlines in Los Angeles and beyond. Cuz, it’s never not a good time for tacos.

Bishop accused of groping Ariana Grande, making Taco Bell joke

[dropcap size=big]B[/dropcap]ishop Charles H. Ellis III officiated Aretha Franklin’s funeral on Friday and has apologized to Ariana Grande for what appeared to be groping her onstage and making a lame Taco Bell joke about her name. Video footage shows that Ellis’ fingers grazed against one side of her breast. "When I saw Ariana Grande on the program, I thought that was a new something at Taco Bell," the bishop said. He tells the Associated Press that whatever touching that took place was inadvertent. Ellis did, however, make it a point to apologize to Grande and “the whole Hispanic community” for the comment about Taco Bell … Never mind the fact that Grande is Italian American.

How the Taco Truck Became a NOLA Fixture Post-Katrina

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he New Orleans Advocate uncovers an interesting story out of NOLA, diving into how the taco truck became a mainstay in Big Easy dining in the years that followed Hurricane Katrina. Prior to the devastating storm, loncheras weren’t really commonplace, reports The Advocate’s Ian McNulty. As Latino workers arrived in the area to assist with rebuilding efforts, so too, did the ubiquitous taco truck, which the author says helped to feed the region’s recovery.

Robbers Target Taco Trucks in Milwaukee

[dropcap size=big]P[/dropcap]olice in Milwaukee are in search of three men suspected of robbing several taco trucks. The men are believed to have held up five trucks at gunpoint in just a few hours span on the evening of Aug. 29, Patch.com reports. Police are looking for the getaway car, a newer-model red or burgundy, Nissan Sentra. 

Texas Mexican Restaurant Apologizes, Fires Employee For Homophobic Slur

[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap] Mexican restaurant in Corpus Christi has apologized and fired a worker after the employee was accused of using a homophobic slur to refer to some customers last week. Sandra Clement posted on Facebook about an incident involving her son and his boyfriend Aug. 30, the Dallas Morning News reports. When her son hugged his boyfriend at the Agave Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, a male employee began singing out a derogatory homophobic term in Spanish. Within a day, the restaurant had issued a statement apologizing, saying, "We are family owned, we have taught our family and children to go out into the world and treat everyone the same way that they would want to be treated." The employee was fired and the restaurant says other workers will go through sensitivity training.

Of Course Worldwide Tacos on ‘Insecure’ is Real

[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]eimert Park’s Worldwide Tacos made an appearance on the latest episode of HBO’s Insecure. And aside from making fans hungry over how Issa described the deliciousness that comes out of the walk-up window, the taqueria cameo also had folks wondering if Worldwide Tacos was, in fact, real. It is, and it's on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just west of Arlington, in the Crenshaw/Leimert Park area. You're welcome!