EXCLUSIVE
An Austin-based Latina CEO with a booming business blasted a Nueces County judge on Monday after he posted a racist comment calling her success “Ozark part 4” in an apparent reference to the Netflix prestige drama about a family laundering money for a drug boss.
Gabriela Bucio, 38, oversees 12 Texas businesses in the restaurant and nightclub industry, and she was featured in a KXAN story about her accomplishments in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. But when the outlet shared the piece on its Facebook page, the 175+ comments were littered with racist and sexist questions and references. Anyone who’s spent time online knows this isn’t entirely unusual — except that one of those voices was Nueces County Judge Jack Pulcher.
“In 5 years she built that kind of business…. Ozark part 4…” the judge’s account wrote. Bucio quickly commented back: “Racism has no place in our society, especially not from those entrusted with upholding justice. Your comment is deeply inappropriate and unprofessional.”
On Tuesday Bucio wrote, and this week intends to file, a complaint with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The judge has since deleted the comment.
“By referencing this show, Judge Pulcher insinuated that, because I am Mexican and own multiple successful businesses, my success must be tied to illegal activities,” Bucio wrote in the complaint, which The Barbed Wire has reviewed. “This racist and baseless assumption is not only an insult to me personally but reflects a discriminatory mindset that is especially troubling coming from someone in a judicial position.”
Bucio shared screenshots of the exchange on her Instagram account, where she has more than 40,000 followers. The caption read: “a big thank you to everyone for the support – both good and bad. To everyone in Nueces County, District court 105, be careful with judge Pulcher. ✌🏽Viva Mexico. 🇲🇽Feliz 16 de Septiembre.”
“His comment perpetuated harmful and racist stereotypes, which directly impact me and the broader Latino community. As a public figure and entrepreneur, I believe it’s essential to stand up against prejudice, especially when it comes from individuals in positions of authority who are supposed to uphold justice,” Bucio said.
When reached by The Barbed Wire on Monday evening, the judge’s court manager, Laura Salinas, wrote that Pulcher “shares a Facebook account with his wife Celina Ybarbo, who is a jokester.” When asked if that meant Pulcher’s wife wrote the remark, Salinas replied: “Yes ma’am.” (Pulcher did not return a call from The Barbed Wire requesting direct comment.)
But that answer wasn’t particularly satisfying, it felt like a blame game and a backpedal.
“Sharing an account does not excuse the impact of the comment, nor does it change the fact that this kind of language is unacceptable, particularly from those in positions of authority,” Bucio told The Barbed Wire. “The responsibility still lies with the judge to ensure that any actions associated with his name uphold the integrity of his role.”
To be clear, comments like the one from the Pulcher account aren’t new for Bucio. She’s been outspoken about them in past interviews and often claps back at haters, when they show up.
“I see them daily from internet trolls hiding behind fake accounts. But when it comes from someone in a position of authority, it’s incredibly alarming. It shows that even those who are supposed to uphold justice and fairness can hold biased and harmful views,” Bucio told The Barbed Wire via email.
Bucio began her business in 2018 and said she’s frustrated that no one questions male success or why the Chuy’s restaurant group has so many Texas locations. The Michoacán, Mexico native grew up in the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen before moving to Austin to work as a bartender.
“We don’t have any loans. I don’t have any generational wealth, so we had to start with literally nothing,” Bucio told me when I interviewed her in 2022.
She opened the original Gabriela’s location, a little white house converted into a Tex-Mex restaurant covered with neon pink and colorful murals, near 6th street in downtown Austin. It was in an effort to build a sense of community for Latinos in Austin’s nightlife and music scene. “Mexican or Latino venues were on the outskirts of Austin,” she said. “I don’t know why that was, but I wanted to provide a closer venue to my fellow Latinos.”
During a month that’s supposed to celebrate the rich impact Latinos have made to this country, Bucio told The Barbed Wire she wants her community to remember it’s important to speak up.
“Despite the progress we’ve made, racism and harmful stereotypes still exist, even in places where fairness and justice should prevail,” Bucio said. “It’s important that we hold individuals in positions of authority accountable for their words and actions, and that we continue to support one another in the fight against prejudice.”
“Ultimately, I want my community to know that our resilience, dedication, and achievements cannot be overshadowed by ignorance or hate,” she added.
