The Brian Flores sham interview isn't uncommon and is part of the reason why it's hard to shake imposter syndrome.
I had a similar issue a few years back. I got an interview with a tech company a few years back. Interview was at their offices in a nearby city about 45 minutes away. I show up, and the workers are like that manager works in a different city an hour away.
I call the recruiter panicking and she's like oh crap, I told you the wrong city.
It's 5 minutes until my interview...
^^^ so I am freaking TF out. She gives me the number of the person I'm supposed to interview with and then doesn't even return my calls again, like ever.
So I call the manager I am supposed to interview with, and he's like sure come on out. We understand.
I drive another hour+ to get there for a 15 minute interview in which the manager is on the phone for 10 of those minutes taking care of personal affairs.
I worked in a field with few minority candidates, I'm not naïve about what happened.
@Hobyrim jeez that sucks. And sounds potentially legally actionable.
@marm0t maybe it was. But when it's done like that you question yourself for weeks.
"Maybe I shoulda known better. Maybe I shoulda confirmed more the day before. Maybe I shoulda wore something different..."
Or worse, when you work in a relatively small field that you have a passion for, legal action all but ensures you never work in the field again.