A heartwarming story involving a Starbucks barista who discreetly offered help to a young woman has gone viral, sparking a debate about women’s safety and boundaries.
The incident took place in Texas in 2022 but resurfaced on social media recently after it was shared on X (formerly Twitter). The post has garnered over 21.6 million views and more than 240,000 likes.
An 18-year-old student was studying alone at Starbucks when a man approached her and started talking. A female barista noticed the interaction and decided to step in — subtly.
This gave me goosebumps.
“My 18-year-old daughter was at Starbucks, alone, the other night.
A man came up to her and started talking to her.
A barista handed her “an extra hot chocolate someone forgot to pick up.”
How grateful I am for people who look out for other… pic.twitter.com/ymMIHuno9g
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) October 15, 2023
She brought over a cup of hot chocolate, pretending it had been “forgotten”. But the lid had a note that read: “Are you okay? Do you want us to intervene? If you do, take the lid off the cup.”
The woman’s mother, Brandy Selim Roberson, shared the story on Facebook. She posted a photo of the note and praised the staff’s thoughtful gesture. “She felt safe and did not remove the lid, but let them know. She said the whole team was watching over her the rest of the time she was there. Thank you to Starbucks for having a great team,” she wrote.
In an interview with the New York Post, Roberson added that the man had been “very loud and animated.” Her daughter felt reassured knowing the staff was alert and ready to act. “This reaffirms my faith in humanity,” Roberson said. “Maybe others will speak up instead of looking away.”
As the story spread again online, many praised the Starbucks team. “There still are some great people in the world!” one person commented. Another said, “As a father of a daughter, I’m glad people are still looking out.”
However, not everyone agreed. Some users felt the barista overreacted since the woman didn’t appear to be in danger. ““I fail to see why a young woman needs to be ‘rescued’ in a situation like this,” one user questioned. Others claimed such actions make it difficult for men to approach women at all.
Many men argued that these situations create fear and paranoia. One user posted: “Can’t approach women in a coffee shop — creepy. Can’t do it at work — unprofessional. What are men supposed to do?”
But others defended the barista’s quick thinking. One comment read: “Men in the quotes giving us great examples of why the employees stepped in.” Another said, “You don’t need to be threatening for someone to feel uncomfortable.”