Virtual Tip Jar Created For Barista Who Stood Up To An SD 'Karen'

SAN DIEGO, CA — A virtual tip jar has raised thousands for a San Diego Starbucks barista who refused to serve a customer without a face covering amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative started after a woman posted a photo of the Starbucks employee Monday morning on Facebook after he refused to serve her at the store at 4227 Genesee Ave. Face masks are now required in all public places in California.

"Meet Lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause I'm not wearing a mask," she wrote. "Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption."

In the comments, the woman called masks and the people who wear them "stupid."

As of Tuesday afternoon, the post had more than 100,000 comments and 35,000 shares.

"I just want to thank all my haters," the woman wrote. "Couldn't have done without you."

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The post sparked outrage on social media from people criticizing the woman for singling out the employee, Lenin Gutierrez, for just doing his job. Others called for Starbucks to ban the woman and give Gutierrez a raise.

In fact, hundreds of people signed a petition on change.org calling for the coffeehouse chain to ban her.

"Imagine photographing someone who makes minimum wage because you won't comply with the rules a private business and the state of California set up," Victoria Grace Simpson wrote. "Call the cops all you want, but there's literally nothing they can do for you, Karen."

"Let's just get mad at someone for following rules so he doesn't get fired," Tyler McClure wrote.

Starbucks workers also reacted to the now-infamous post.

"I also work at Starbucks, and we are literally just doing our job," Christopher Vincent Merkel responded. "We do not have a choice on the matter!"

"The amount of rudeness, disrespectful, entitled people we have had to deal with in our stores is disgusting," wrote Tina Marie Kelley, a supervisor at Starbucks. "We do our best to do what we have to to keep our jobs, to keep customers safe and ourselves safe."

Matt Cowan, an Irvine-based social media manager, launched a GoFundMe page named "Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen" Monday in support of the Starbucks employee.

He said a friend of his lives near the Starbucks where the incident took place. His friend tagged in the post, which gave him the idea to start the fundraiser.

Cowan called for people to give to the employee for "his honorable effort standing his ground when faced with a 'Karen' in the wild." "Karen" is an identifier for any white woman who acts inappropriately, rudely or in an entitled fashion.

Donors quickly helped surpass the initial $1,000 fundraising goal.

"Let's hope 'Karen' sleeps well tonight knowing that her hatred has helped raise money for Lenin," Cowan wrote.

As of Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of donors had raised nearly $9,000 for the employee.

Also see:

• California Coronavirus: Latest Updates On Cases, Orders, Closures
• Coronavirus In San Diego County: Latest News
• Face Coverings Now Mandatory In CA, State Says