FAQ - New Privacy Policy. Market data provided byFactset. 'Starbucks Karen' Threatens to Sue Employee for Cut of His $100,000 GoFundMe Money Stephen Sheehan When Starbucks employee Lenin Gutierrez refused to help a belligerent customer because she wasn't wearing a mask, not even he could have imagined how this now-infamous incident would turn into both a life-changing blessing and a never-ending . Any comments that are sexist or in any other way deemed hateful by our staff will be deleted and constitute grounds for a ban from posting on the site. Available in participating locations only. Gilles aka Starbucks Karen took a photo of Gutierrez and verbally berated him and other Starbucks customers. it doesnt escape the realm of possibility that someone(s) could report her lawyer for filing a frivolous claim, not saying to do so just saying its something one could do. Please enter valid email address to continue. Everybody is rallying around somebody for doing what theyre supposed to do and trying to protect everyone else. Cowan revealed that he had initially started the GoFundMe because he wanted to give Gutierrez,then a perfect stranger, some tip money. Give the gift of knowledge with our official 'did you know' book! Next time, I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.. All rights reserved. More than 2,000 people have shelled out more than $22,000 for a Starbucks employee who on Monday refused to serve a woman who wasn't wearing a face mask at the San Diego location where he works. However, the campaign is now the root of a lawsuit brought by Giles against Cowan and his company, according to KGTV. A GoFundMe accountnotched more than $100,000 Wednesday for a San Diego Starbucks employee skewered on social mediaby a customer who walked out after the employee asked the customerif she had a mask to wear in the store. #nbc7 & https://t.co/ylvk5rP6Vf pic.twitter.com/gCREw0LR5V, Artie Ojeda (@ArtieNBCSD) June 25, 2020. "If it goes to court, I look forward to defending myself," Cowan said. Hopefully, she doesnt count on the Internet to back her up as they did for Gutierrez. An earlier version of this story was updated to include the sum raised on GoFundMe and comments from Matt Cowan. On Facebook, Gutierrez explained what went down. Shes also sued Sprouts Farmers Market because she says they violated her civil rights & the Americans with Disabilities Act by keeping her from shopping maskless. #StarbucksKaren https://t.co/90MGQh4xfB. The post, which has since been deleted, was met with backlash and she was labeled a "Karen," a name used to describewhite women acting entitled in public. Within a few minutes she came back and asked for my name, she took a photo of me and said Im calling corporate and started cussing some more at everyone and just left, he said. Gilles' attorney, Michael Harrington, told NBC 7 that his client is seeking a monetary award that has not been specified and will plead according to proof. Gilles has said previously that she is medically exempt from wearing a mask and she previously has gone after a Sprouts Farmers Market, which she also said targeted her for not wearing a mask. Ted's Bio; Fact Sheet; Hoja Informativa Del Ted Fund; Ted Fund Board 2021-22; 2021 Ted Fund Donors; Ted Fund Donors Over the Years. When Starbucks employee Lenin Gutierrez refused to help a belligerent customer because she wasnt wearing a mask, not even he could have imagined how this now-infamous incident would turn into both a life-changing blessing and a never-ending headache. The employee refused to serve Gilles because she wasnt wearing a mask, which was required because of the ongoing pandemic. He said Gilles approached the counter to place an order, and when Gutierrez asked if she had a mask, she told him that she didnt need one. The GoFundMe, titled Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen and set up by Matt Cowan, was created on June 22 to show support for Starbucks employee Lenin Gutierrez. So far, Gilles page, which has been live for months, has raised $5,750 of the $15,000 goal. SAN DIEGO, CA An Orange County man who started a GoFundMe effort last summer that raised more than $100,000 for a Starbucks barista who refused to serve a San Diego woman not wearing a mask. Gilles did not immediately respondto FOX Business' request for comment. Matt Cowan has started another fundraising effort that has raised more than $22,000 in the past two days after he was named in a lawsuit by Amber Lynn Gilles. He was going to show her the Starbucks guidelines requiring masks when entering the store, but she began cussing up a storm.. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. "Raising money for Lenin for his honorable effort standing his ground when faced with a Karen in the wild," the fundraiser's description read. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Shes also sued Sprouts Farmers Market because she says they violated her civil rights & the Americans with Disabilities Act by keeping her from shopping maskless. "It was discrimination and everybody is okay with it and enabling and rewarding that behavior," Gilles said in an interview with local ABC affiliate KGTVon Tuesday. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.. She must really love the attention. Meet lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause Im not wearing a mask. We will update as the story develops. In a Facebook post Monday, Amber Lynn Gilles posted a photo of a . When a Starbucks customer attacked a San Diego barista on social media, claiming he refused to serve her because she wasn't wearing a face mask, he received more than $100,000 in GoFundMe. A woman has filed a lawsuit again the creator of a GoFundMe campaign that raised tens of thousands of dollars for a Starbucks barista in San Diego who went viral after asking her to mask up. They are real doctors.. Our skimmable newsletter is delivered to your inbox each week, giving you 5 things you need to read and get smarter. STARBUCKS TRANSFORMING STORES FOR POST-CORONAVIRUS WORLD: HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT. "SAN Diego Karen" who yelled at a Starbucks employee after he asked her to wear a mask is now asking for half of the $100,000 "tip" raised for the barista. See each delivery app for details. Throngs of people have flocked to social media to point out to Amber and everyone following the drama that it would be a bad idea for her to try and actually sue Lenin for the money as she has almost zero legal grounds to do so. According to the New York Times, Gilles said on Sunday that she wanted the money "because they're using me to get it. He said since establishing the GoFundMe for Lenin Gutierrez said summer, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption, she wrote in the now-deleted post. Now, Gilles believes Gutierrez is being rewarded for the incident and she says wants half the money. Donations have topped $57,000 for Lenin Gutierrez, a barista who stood up to a woman when she refused to wear a face mask at the San Diego Starbucks . Last year, Gilles went to a Starbucks to order a coffee. Someone was recording the woman's unbelievable behavior, however, along with the unbelievable composure that Lenin displayed in dealing with the irate woman. One of the most famous Amber Lynn Gilles from San Diego and she is at it again. "We respectfully request customers follow social distancing and safety protocols recommended by public health officials, including wearing a facial covering when visiting our stores.". For 18 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. July 16, 2020 / 2:44 PM Gilles updated her GoFundMe to include a copy of the lawsuit and needs help to redress what she claims to be defamation of character. And I do have asthma as well, and I do get mask-acne. A GoFundMe was set up to reward the young man for his remarkable behavior. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.". Memorial Fundraiser for beloved French Valley Veteran. View our, We welcome relevant, respectful comments. Gilles asked for the chiropractor to not be named, and the practitioner declined to discuss Gilles when the outlet reached out for comment. Thank you all for the love and support. One document was a pelvic exam from 2015, reporting a probable exophytic fibroid arising from the anterior wall of the uterus measuring 2.9 cm size, and simple 2.5 cm left ovarian cyst., A second was a handwritten note on letterhead from a local chiropractor, reading, Amber has underlying breath conditions that prevent her from wearing a mask or any type of facial covering whatsoever. Once you click your selected plan a window will open taking you to Admiral, our ad-free partner. No absolutely not," Gilles told News 10 when asked if she owes anyone an apology after last summer's incident. Key take away Lynn thinks shes entitled to part of the donations set up for Gutierrez, and plans to sue. This is a developing story. Amber has reportedly launched her own GoFundMe "to redress the defamation and slander used against [her]," but a search on the platform for her specific campaign has come up short. Distractify is a registered trademark. Photo / GoFundMe. She refused and left. The GoFundMe quickly raised more than $100,000 for Gutierrez and Gilles felt entitled to some. "Her public post is the one that went viral.". She later returned, asked for his name, took his picture and threatened to call corporate, he added. The woman, Amber Lynn Gilles, posted a photo of the barista, Lenin Gutierrez, with the caption, Meet lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause Im not wearing a mask. When Starbucks employee Lenin Gutierrez stood up to a customer who refused to wear a mask, he gained a flood of support from sympathetic strangers. Last donation 59m ago. #nbc7 & https://t.co/ylvk5rP6Vf pic.twitter.com/gCREw0LR5V, Artie Ojeda (@ArtieNBCSD) June 25, 2020, Even worse, she has threatened to sue not only Lenin but also GoFundMe founders Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester for defamation and slander.. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE, "We want everyone to feel welcome in our stores," a Starbucks spokesperson told FOX Business. Before he was about to explain the company's policy, Gilles reportedly cut him off saying she didn't need one andcursed at him before leaving,Gutierrez said. She left angrily when Gutierrez wouldn't take her order. Thank you. "Not just myself, but defending the right of people to go out there and do what's good. The GoFundMe started by Cowan includes a photo that includes two briefcases. The Tips for Lenin GoFundMe page got started and has raised $105,453 from more than 7,000 donors. #StarbucksKaren https://t.co/90MGQh4xfB. The lawsuit, which was filed last week in San Diego, claims that Cowans effort to help the Starbucks barista last summer has damaged Gilles reputation, hurt her career and even resulted in death threats against her, according to reports. Residents with a health condition that prevents them from wearing a mask are exempt, according to the policy. Enjoy ad-free browsing while paying as you go. Yet, because she was not wearing a mask, the barista, Lenin Gutierrez, refused to serve her. Gilles updated her GoFundMe to include a copy of the lawsuit and needs help to redress what she claims to be defamation of character. STARBUCKS REOPENING 85% OF STORES AS CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWNS EASE. In a new GoFundMe page, Cowan calls out the lawsuit. I never threatened him. Hear from woman who was denied service at a Clairemont Starbucks for refusing to wear a mask. Starbucks Barista Gets $20,000 In Tips for Standing up to "San Diego Karen" Who Wasn't Wearing a Mask. Learn more. Ed Pricola, REMSA Careflight RN, BSN. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that from June 15 it will bemandatory for people to wear face coverings on public transport. Not me thinking automatic sinks are just constantly defective: Black woman says automatic faucet doesnt work for herit works for white paper towel, I started doing this and its been peaceful ever since: Recruiter shares how to deal with toxic co-workers, They just invited you for that reason: Woman says man shed been seeing duped her into paying his and his friends $100 restaurant tab, Same energy as can you check in the back for me? And here's her snotty Facebook post that ended up costing her so much "pain and suffering," and making her a figure of ridicule for thousands of people who would later bombard her with comments, stating the obvious that she's just a horrible human being. The "Tips For Lenin" crowdfunding page has reached a staggering $103,943 since it was first posted in late June with other 7,700 donaters all giving a tip to Lenin for having to deal with such an angry customer. Raising money for Lenin for his honorable effort standing his ground when faced with a Karen in the wild," the fundraiser's description read. Is it really that hard? Most of the comments are in defense of Lenin. I wanted to make a $10 tip donation, Cowan told KGTV. Now, Amber Lynn Gilles, the customer who refused to wear a mask and posted on social media about Gutierrez, says she wants half of the money Guitierrez earned when the story went viral. She says shes getting death threats. Legal Statement. Dear Friends and Family, I am reaching out to you tod. One of the most famous Amber Lynn Gilles from San Diego and she is at it again. Last donation 5m ago. Now, he finds himself defending himself against defamation charges, which Cowan declined to address specifically because of the pending nature of the case. Fees subject to change. Amber Lynn Gilles likes to sue people. A GoFundMe campaign for a San Diego Starbucks barista has raised more than $84,600 after a customer's Facebook post went viral. As of the time of this articles writing, the post has over 48,000 shares and 104,000 likes. In a new GoFundMe page, Cowan calls out the lawsuit. A Starbucks barista made $49,000 in tips from GoFundMe after going viral for standing up to a San Diego Karen who didn't want to wear a mask. **Does not apply to Comments, YouTube or any other embedded service ads. Cowan said while he hopes a judge dismisses the lawsuit, he needs to prepare the possibility the matter goes to trial. Instead of backing down, a friend of Gutierrezs made a GoFundMe to raise money for the man who stood up to an anti-mask Karen. Photo by Screengrab / GoFundMe A woman who has been dubbed "Starbucks. Amber is continuing to speak to Media outlets saying she's entitled to some of the money as the viral sensation is bringing her hardship. Instead of backing down, a friend of Gutierrezs made a GoFundMe to raise money for the man who stood up to an anti-mask Karen. He also wants to donate to some organizations in the San Diego community," a fundraiser update read. "Lenin has said that he plans to use some of the money to pursue his dreams of becoming a dancer. Now she is planning a 'Burn Your Mask Bon Fire" on Mission Bay next month. At the end of the day, this boils down to: I don't want to see someone else see an injustice happen in the world and not start a collection or a GoFundMe through fear of retribution from someone else.".