A San Diego woman who was denied service at a Starbucks coffee shop for refusing to wear a mask says she received death threats after publicly embarrassing the barista who rejected her on social media.
A GoFundMe page established on behalf of the barista has raised nearly $ 25,000 in four days.
“I never threatened him, I only called him for his actions. I never threatened him and I have received death threats, thousands, it is very annoying. It’s very scary, ”said Amber Lynn Gilles.
Shortly after service was denied, Gilles posted a photo of barista Lenin Gutiérrez on his Facebook page.
The post says: “You know Lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me because I’m not wearing a mask. Next time, I’ll wait for the police and file a medical exemption. “
Facial coatings are mandatory within companies in San Diego County. Public health officials said companies have the right to refuse service to anyone who does not comply with the public health order. Medical conditions that would be inhibited by face masks are one of the few exemptions for wearing face masks.
Gilles, 35, has three children and considers himself anti-vaxxer. She says that masks are ineffective.
“It starts with coffee but ends with digital certificates and forced vaccines,” said Gilles.
Gilles also claims that he bought coffee two days earlier at Starbucks without wearing a mask.
“I never threatened him, I just called him about his actions,” said Gilles.
Gilles said he received thousands of messages in response to his Facebook posts, including threats.
Barista Gutiérrez is not making any public comment, but has posted a video on her Facebook page explaining what happened.
In it, he says that he asked Gilles if he had a mask to which the client replied that he did not need it.
“Before I could say anything, she turned me down and said she didn’t need one and started cursing a storm. She started calling people sheep and she left and in a few minutes she came back and asked for my name and took a photo, “Gutiérrez said in the video.
He also thanked donors and says he will use the money to fulfill his dream of becoming a dancer.
For his part, Gilles, who started the incident with its publication, said he wants some of the money and threatens to sue the page’s creator for defamation and slander.
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