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 is now being sued for defamation by the same woman. The pandemic was a litmus test that so many people failed. A wildly successful GoFundMe campaign has a 'Karen' looking for her cut. But thanks to his steadfastness and Amber Lynn Gilles own ignorance, Gutierrez earned plenty of respect for his professionalism. ': Server blasts customers who try to change their party size at the last minute, *First Published: Jun 25, 2020, 5:30 pm CDT, Mom who mocked mask rules in Walmart asks for prayers after COVID-19 diagnosis, This county meeting about masks looks like a Parks and Recreation episode, Karen says her health condition prevents her from wearing maskand then makes things political. I set it at $1,000 thinking that was a reach but we would be lucky if we hit like $250 and when we hit $100 I was overwhelmed by that, Cowan told KGTV. #StarbucksKaren https://t.co/90MGQh4xfB. She even threatened to sue because she was the real victim. The Tips for Lenin GoFundMe page got started and has raised $105,453 from more than 7,000 donors. AOC Teams Up With NYC Mayor And Assembly Member To Get The Vacunabus To Those Who Need It, The Suicide Rate Of Retail Workers Sparks Trending Conversation On Reddit Its unbearable., Study Finds Pandemic Lockdowns Hit Latinas, Black, Women Hardest Due To Likelihood Of Job Loss, Inability To Afford Basic Necessities, San Diego Karen Wants To Sue For Half Of Starbucks Baristas $100K GoFundMe. Please email us at corrections@nglmitu.com, Copyright 2023 Latido Mitu Holdings LLC, all rights reserved. "I feel like I need the apology. The footage was posted online and folks were impressed with the way that Lenin conducted himself. See each delivery app for details. Check out her interview with NBC7 for yourself: I never threatened him. Hear from woman who was denied service at a Clairemont Starbucks for refusing to wear a mask. She's suing to get HIS earnings that were donated to HIM?Okay, gotta read the legal justification they're trying to use on THIS one (I'm guessing ill-gotten gains because she'll claim he defamed her butseriously???). As many of you have come across, on Friday, Februa. The post backfired on Gilles even more after Matt Cowan saw it and subsequently set up a virtual tip jar for Gutierrez, raising over $22,000. "Me and Lenin are flabbergasted,"GoFundMe organizer Matt Cowan told FOX Business Wednesday. And that has led people to donate more than $100,000 via a GoFundMe page as a lucrative tip of the cap to the barista. Despite the fact that Lenin was not only complying with the rules and regulations implemented by his employer, but his county, regardless of how he or any Starbucks customer felt about it, Amber is now threatening to sue the young man if he doesn't hand over a portion of his GoFundMe earnings. Amber Lynn Gilles, a self-described activist and yoga instructor in San Diego, posted a photo of Gutierrez on Facebook earlier this month saying he "refused to serve me cause I'm not wearing a mask. He has also received a positive response to the fundraising effort he established this week since the suit which he characterized Friday as "frivolous" was filed. Gilles updated her GoFundMe to include a copy of the lawsuit and needs help to redress what she claims to be defamation of character. To become an ad-free subscriber please select one of the following two options. Ive been discriminated against, Im the one whos sick.. STARBUCKS TRANSFORMING STORES FOR POST-CORONAVIRUS WORLD: HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT Cowan revealed that he had initially started the GoFundMe because he wanted to give Gutierrez, then a perfect. 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. We will update as the story develops. "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. how many kids does jason statham have . KABC-TV: . Moises Mendez II is a recent graduate from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. So far, Gilles page, which has been live for months, has raised $5,750 of the $15,000 goal. Some people believe that if it does go to court the "frivolous claim" will ultimately backfire in Amber's face. Sign up for our newsletter and receive the coolest updates! Ed Pricola, REMSA Careflight RN, BSN. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. However, the campaign is now the root of a lawsuit brought by Giles against Cowan and his company, according to KGTV. So theres several things going on and not only that but it doesnt even work., Gilles brought two documents to the outlet to prove her exemption. In less than a week, Cowans GoFundMe page has raised $31,519 of the $50,000 goal. More than $104,000 has been raised since the launch of the fundraising page. He said since establishing the GoFundMe for Lenin Gutierrez said summer, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. If you don't mind the ads and would rather donate, please select one of the options below: Audience Laughs At Russia's Lavrov As He Claimed 'War Was Launched Against Us', 'Justice For All': Trump And J6 Defendants Celebrate Insurrection. Legal Statement. Residents with a health condition that prevents them from wearing a mask are exempt, according to the policy. The employee refused to serve Gilles because she wasnt wearing a mask, which was required because of the ongoing pandemic. We'll send you an email once a week with only the best stuff we put out. Amber Lynn Gilles likes to sue people. Amber also insisted she was within her rights to call the police on Lenin, but many folks think she's in the wrong about that claim as well. 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. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE, "We want everyone to feel welcome in our stores," a Starbucks spokesperson told FOX Business. The funds started to rapidly rollin last week after the customer, Amber Lynn Gilles,claimed on Facebook that she was refused service by Lenin Gutierrez for not wearing a mask. 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. Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption, she wrote in the now-deleted post. Cowan is surprised that Gilles was able to find an attorney to take the case that was filed against him and his company. / CBS News. As of Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of donors had raised nearly $9,000 for the Starbucks barista on GoFundMe. All because she refused to wear a mask. Copyright 2023 Distractify. View our, We welcome relevant, respectful comments. 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.". What do you think? Generous readers opened their wallets to support the worker, Lenin Gutierrez, raising more than $105,400 in tips for him through GoFundMe. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. According to the New York Times, Gilles said on Sunday that she wanted the money "because they're using me to get it. Gilles told the station she is going to sue for half of Gutierrez's GoFundMe money. The customer, identified as Amber Lynn Gilles, took a photo of the employee, Lenin Gutierrez, and shared it on Facebook, along with a complaint about him. KABC-TV: Starbucks customer Amber Lynn Gilles files lawsuit against GoFundMe creator who raised money for San Diego barista.https://t.co/zk7UyUa1OE. Cowan told Patch in a telephone interview Friday that while he is not surprised the lawsuit was brought, he is surprised Gilles found an attorney to file it on her behalf. Her snotty Facebook post (now deleted) backfired in spectacular fashion after Matt Cowan set up a GoFundMe page, which went viral and racked up over $100,000. Memorial Fundraiser for beloved French Valley Veteran. Now, almost a year later, she's filed a lawsuit against Cowan and his company, for defamation and invasion of privacy even though Giles campaign against the Starbucks employee was completely public. Our skimmable newsletter is delivered to your inbox each week, giving you 5 things you need to read and get smarter. "Not just myself, but defending the right of people to go out there and do what's good. We were getting used to seeing Karens on out social media pages and the pandemic brought about so many more than we were ready to deal with. He said he plans to use the money to once again become a dance instructor working with children. Karen Who Refused To Wear Mask In Starbucks Now Wants HALF Of Over $100,00 In Online Tips Given To Barista! Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.. Next time, I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.. GoFundMe Set up For Starbucks Barista who Refused Unmasked 'Karen' Amber Lynn Gilles/Facebook An unmasked 'Karen' tried to shame a Starbucks barista for refusing to serve herit backfired. ", "And I do have asthma as well and I do get mask-acne," she added. #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.. We will update as the story develops. 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. The post Starbucks Karen Is Now Suing GoFundMe Creator For Invasion Of Privacy appeared first on we are Mit. Enjoy ad-free browsing while paying as you go. He also explained his side of the story, and said he was abiding by company policy and Gilles had taken his name and photo and said she would take the issue further. She publically shamed the barista. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Please contact me if have any questions.. In the GoFundMe he created to pay for his defense this week, Cowan refers to Gilles as a Karen who unjustly victimized Gutierrez, who was following company guidelines regarding COVID-19 when he refused to serve Gilles. Please refer to our, 'San Diego Karen' Sues GoFundMe Campaign Creator Over Starbucks Barista Fundraiser, Amber Lynn Giles who tried to shame a Starbucks barista, Tips For Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen, Tips Pour In For Starbucks' Barista For Standing Up To A San Diego Karen, FL Bill Would Make Bloggers Writing About DeSantis Register With State, DeSantis Says New Disney Board Will Control 'Woke Content', Kimberly Guilfoyle Hawking Gold And Silver At CPAC, EPA Orders Norfolk Southern To Test Crash Area For Dioxin, Russian Lawmaker To Face Prison After Spaghetti Incident, Pervez Agwan Is Battling Big Oil And $ Head-on, In Their Own Backyard, Dom Jones Is Determined To Ensure Basic Human Rights For All. A woman tried to shame a Starbucks barista who refused to serve her because she wasnt wearing a mask. People are donating in mass to help Cowan while Gilles original GoFundMe page is still active. He is a freelance journalist based in New York City writing about everything from music to LGBTQ issues. KABC-TV: Starbucks customer Amber Lynn Gilles files lawsuit against GoFundMe creator who raised money for San Diego barista.https://t.co/zk7UyUa1OE. 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. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Someone was recording the woman's unbelievable behavior, however, along with the unbelievable composure that Lenin displayed in dealing with the irate woman. A wildly successful GoFundMe campaign has a 'Karen' looking for her cut. 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. Pardon? She went so far as to call them sheep. Of course, someone filmed the entire incident, and once it hit social media channels, people began praising Gutierrez for maintaining his composure in the face of the newest Karen.. 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. #StarbucksKaren https://t.co/90MGQh4xfB. 100% American & Latino. Please note that all donations made to this GoFundMe are considered to be personal gifts to Lenin Gutierrez.. Prices for Starbucks items purchased through Uber Eats or DoorDash may be higher than posted in stores or as marked. San Diego Karen Wants To Sue For Half Of Starbucks Baristas $100K GoFundMe, Starbucks Karen Is Now Suing GoFundMe Creator For Invasion Of Privacy. Cowan wrote on the page, "Raising money for Lenin for his honorable effort standing his ground when faced with a Karen in. She later returned, asked for his name, took his picture and threatened to call corporate, he added. Amber Lynn Gilles is still upset that her video shaming a Starbucks employee backfired big time. She refused and left. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The GoFundMe was successful, raising more than $105,000 for him. It worked. Last summer we brought you the story of Amber Lynn Giles who tried to shame a Starbucks barista after he refused service to her because she wouldn't wear a mask. Gilles said she was not remorseful at all for her post and that she has started her own GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees should she decide to sue. Cowan is surprised that Gilles was able to find an attorney to take the case that was filed against him and his company. Yet, because she was not wearing a mask, the barista, Lenin Gutierrez, refused to serve her. News 10 in San Diego reported that Gilles provided the station with documentation from doctors explaining her condition. San Diego Karen Wants To Sue For Half Of Starbucks Barista's $100K GoFundMe By Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez June 26, 2020 at 4:07 pm. Lenin Gutierrez' story started at a San Diego . I didnt profit off of that at all, Cowan told The Hill. She ended up getting shamed, and he ended up with over 20,000. A Starbucks Barista, Lenin Gutierrez, recently went viral for refusing to give a belligerent customer service because she wasn't wearing a mask. First published on July 16, 2020 / 2:44 PM. Starbucks Barista Gets $20,000 In Tips for Standing up to "San Diego Karen" Who Wasn't Wearing a Mask. The young man was unwilling to compromise on his franchise's rules for not serving shoppers in-store unless they were using face coverings and he got verbally chewed out for his efforts. She must really love the attention. SD Mesa College Hosting Jumpstart Event for Prospective Students, Smart Streetlights Surveillance Tech + New Virus, Or Cold, Hits SD, Screen You Gut - Save Your Butt 5K Challenge, 'The Great Junk Hunt' Vintage Flea Market 2023: Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California Mid-Winter Fair 2023: Imperial, One Night on The Town - The Marcus Syndicate Dance Band Live, Jazz Evensong 2023: St. Michaels By-The-Sea, Carlsbad. ", Amber Lynn Gilles wants half of the generous donations intended for a Starbucks employee, The GoFundMe, which was created on June 22, has since raised more than $104,000, Gilles decided not to follow COVID-19 regulations when she entered the coffee shop last month, Amber Lynn Gilles posted Lenin's photo to Facebook on June 22, Starbucks and Pepsi boycotting Facebook over failure to stop hate speech, San Diego Karen who yelled at Starbucks employee who asked her to wear a mask wants half of $100K tip raised for him, 'Wrong-way' driver slams into Seattle freeway protesters, leaving one woman with critical, 'life-threatening' injuries, Epstein victims' lawyer warns Ghislaine Maxwell may kill herself or 'be silenced' to stop her spilling secrets on pals, Spearfisher, 36, mauled to death by shark off coast of Australia, Ohio cop with wife and daughter, 2, 'shot in chest and killed at Home Depot by intoxicated man who then killed himself', 'Explosive' encounter with BigFoot who 'moved like an ape with human characteristics' in Oz bush, Mom of murdered Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen hasn't been told gruesome details of daughter's death, Ghislaine Maxwell and Kevin Spacey sat on Buckingham Palace throne after 'Prince Andrew tour invite', Boss finds super-rare 6,000-year-old horn in his office and nearly sold it on eBay, Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen. Cowan revealed that he had initially started the GoFundMe because he wanted to give Gutierrez,then a perfect stranger, some tip money. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that from June 15 it will bemandatory for people to wear face coverings on public transport. 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. Ive received numerous messages asking for my side of the story. In her attempt to get Lenin fired, she helped earn the guy over six figures, and now she's arguing she deserves a taste of that money because it was her behavior that lead to him being paid. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.. Gilles, who was involved in the run-in with the barista last June, is seeking damages against Cowan and his Irvine-based social media company, where Cowan works as a manager. Lenin Gutierrez, a Starbucks barista who refused to serve a maskless customer. 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. Gilles claims that the GoFundMe was a violation of her right to publicity, misappropriation of her name and likeness and false light invasion of privacy.She also claims that Matt Cowan made money off of the GoFundMe page. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. She says shes getting death threats. Yet, because she was not wearing a mask, the barista, Lenin Gutierrez, refused to serve her. Lenin was a dance instructor prior to the pandemic suspending classes and took a job at Starbucks to help make ends meet. One of the most famous Amber Lynn Gilles from San Diego and she is at it again. The GoFundMe quickly raised more than $100,000 for Gutierrez and Gilles felt entitled to some. unethical for a lawyer to bring a frivolous claim, there has to be a good faith basis. Last summer, Gilles told a San Diego television station that she does not believe she needs to apologize. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption,"Gilles wrotealongside an image she had taken ofGutierrez. She publically shamed the barista. California Flooring & Design is a flooring company in San Diego. starbucks karen gofundme. She is also averring she will take legal action against GoFundMe founders Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester for "defamation and slander.". She must really love the attention. Cowan said that the response to the initial GoFundMe was people voicing support for a barista who was simply following Starbucks company policy. All Rights Reserved. Instead of backing down, a friend of Gutierrez's made a GoFundMe to raise money for the man who stood up to an anti-mask Karen. Gilles told ABC affiliate KGTV that shes considering suing to collect half of those funds because she claims to have underlying health issues that make her medically exempt from mask mandates. Delivered every Friday. $103,420 raised of $300,000. Restricted delivery area. 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. You'll recall her online post about a local barista who asked her to wear a face mask went viral after which he received over $100,000 in tips from a GoFundMe in his honor. On June 22, Gutierrezhad been working the front cash register at the Starbucks on Genesee Avenue when the customer first approached. In a new GoFundMe page, Cowan calls out the lawsuit. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.. Photo by Screengrab / GoFundMe A woman who has been dubbed "Starbucks. In the suit, Gilles maintains that Cowan's attempt to help Gutierrez after Gilles posted her encounter with him on Facebook last year was a violation of her rights and a misappropriation of her name and image, NBC7 in San Diego reported. 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. However, the campaign is now the root of a lawsuit brought by Giles against Cowan and his company, according to KGTV. Dear Friends and Family, I am reaching out to you tod. "Raising money for Lenin for his honorable effort standing his ground when faced with a Karen in the wild," the fundraiser's description read. Market data provided byFactset. She even threatened to sue because . 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. All of the money will be given directly to Lenin, who is set to meet with a financial advisor, the GoFundMe states.