People Are Applauding A Barista For How She Helped A Woman Who Was Being Harassed
When we go to a coffee shop, we expect to enjoy a delicious drink, do some work and enjoy the peaceful ambiance. Being harassed by a stranger is never on the menu.
So when one woman at a Utah Starbucks was being harassed by a customer who wouldn’t leave her alone, an observant barista took notice, and people online are applauding her for coming to the rescue.
A Trip To Starbucks
TikTok user @greenybeany420 recently shared a video of an encounter with a barista at a Utah Starbucks that's gone viral, with over 3 million views and nearly half a million likes.
In a two-part video that depicts the actual incident followed by a more detailed explanation, she says that a stranger sat down next to her and tried to engage in conversation. Despite her multiple attempts to rebuff him, he “will not leave me alone.”
When Conversation Turns Into Harassment
@greenybeany420 says that “I’ve made it super obvious I do not want to talk, I mention my husband six times, I tell him I’m working on something very time-sensitive and I don’t have time to talk—he will not leave me alone.”
Little did she know, however, that a Starbucks barista was keeping an eye on her.
Barista To The Rescue
She explains that the second the man started making her uncomfortable, the Starbucks barista, who @greenybeany420 called very observant, came over to her table to check in on her and offered to make her another drink.
“I didn’t know what she was doing at first.”
A “Problematic” Customer
“She leans down and whispers, ‘We’ve been having an issue with this man, if he makes you uncomfortable, let us know.’ But she basically lets me know that they’re going to be watching me and that they know that this man is harassing me, which was already so comforting to hear.”
The first part of the video depicts the second encounter with the barista. In it, the man is still harassing @greenybeany420, so the barista comes back with her drink and says, “There’s that for you. You doing okay?”
Telltale Signs
In a whisper, she then tells the barista that she’s going to head out soon anyway, and the barista quietly asks, “Is it because of him?”
She subtlety acknowledges that the stranger is harassing her, and the barista tells her to reach out if she needs any additional help. In an attempt to stay with her, the barista asks if she can fill her water bottle.
A Peaceful Resolution
@greenybeany420 explains that she made the decision to leave in an attempt to remove herself from the situation but overheard the staff discussing what to do about the problematic customer. As she was packing up to leave, the team approached her.
They told her, “You can stay. We’re actually going to remove him because this isn’t the first time that he’s harassed a customer [or a barista].” The man was soon removed by police.
It’s Not The First Time
She continues by saying that it’s not the first time she’s been in a coffee shop being harassed by a stranger, and being totally alone, isn’t sure what to do or say to deescalate the situation. With this in mind, she had a small message of gratitude for the Starbucks staff.
“Thank you, I love your team. That was super awesome what you did.”
Women Supporting Women
Users loved @greenybeany420’s TikTok and were happy to hear that it had a happy ending. They also loved seeing an instance of women helping women and that we have to be there for each other.
“Love this. Girls gotta have each other's backs,” one user wrote.
Easier Said Than Done
A few users, however, criticized @greenybeany420 and wondered why she didn’t tell the man to stop harassing her. Women were quick to point out that this can often lead to a situation becoming more dangerous.
“All the men asking why she didn’t just ask him to leave—not all men are like you and would have left her alone. There are men who just don’t stop,” one user commented.
The Barista Responded
Many users commented that whether through a pay raise or just a commendation, Starbucks should recognize the helpfulness of the baristas who came to the rescue. The barista who assisted @greenybeany420, named Tiffany, actually responded to her TikTok.
“Hi there, I’m so glad that you are doing okay, I’m so sorry that you had to go through that I’m glad that I was able to help you out.”
