A Starbucks barista received $80,000 in tips for refusing a patron with no mask.
What We Know:
- Lenin Gutierrez, 24, was working his normal shift at a San Diego Starbucks one morning when a woman, who was not wearing a mask, walked in and attempted to place an order.
- When asked her if she had a face mask, the woman started flipping him off and cursing him out before Gutierrez could even show her the company guidlines that requires customers to wear a mask.
- Then the woman, Amber Lynn Gilles, took a photo of Gutierrez and went to Facebook.
- “Meet Lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause I’m not wearing a mask. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption,” Gilles wrote in her post, which was accompanied by a photo of Gutierrez wearing a face mask and looking at the camera.
- Instead of getting more backlash toward Gutierrez, the post lead to an outpouring of suppport for the barista. Many people shared their support for Gutierrez even saying they wish they could give him a special tip.
- One viewer, 26-year-old, Matt Cowan, said he was upset that Gutierrez was getting “bullied for doing the right thing”. So he started a GoFundMe named Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen,” to give everyone who wanted to tip Gutierrez a chance to do so virtually.
- The GoFundMe campaign’s goal was set at $1,000 but a week later people had donated nearly $80,000.
- Gutierrez told CNN “I thought it was heartwarming to see Matt created a GoFundMe for me, even though we didn’t know each other.”
Gutierrez said he plans to use some of the GoFundMe money to pursue his dreams of becoming a dancer. He also wants to donate to some organizations in the San Diego community.
