By David Young-
A transphobic row’ between a Southampton Starbucks employee – who has since been sacked – and a customer is being investigated by police.
The row was caught on camera in Town Quay – captured a transgender Starbucks barista demanding a customer to leave the store after they were accused of being transphobic.
The now sacked staff member then appeared to assault a separate customer who was recording the verbal sparring match on his phone.
In a statement, Hampshire police said: “We received a report of an assault at Starbucks in Beresford House, Town Quay in Southampton on Sunday 30 April.
“It is alleged that a staff member became verbally abusive towards a customer within the premises, before assaulting a member of the public who was filming the incident. No injuries were reported.”
The statement ended: “Our investigation into this matter remains ongoing at this time.”
The 53-second video of the exchange has gained almost over 500,000 views on Twitter.
During the row, the customer can be seen saying: “Don’t ever call me transphobic, ever, you do not know me.”
The Starbucks staff member – who is yet to be identified – responded: “You’re being transphobic Karen (a pejorative term used as slang for a white women perceived as entitled or demanding) – now get out.”
The video goes on to show the customer being told she’s “trespassing” on the premises after being refused a refund.
The camera operator adds: “Apparently we said something transphobic”, before being confronted by the employee who appears to knock the man over to the ground.
A few seconds later he rises from the pavement to the dismay of people walking by.
The female customer says: “You’re rude, don’t ever call me transphobic, ever. You do not know me.”
In response, the transgender woman says: “You’re calling me a man, you’re being transphobic, Karen. Now get out.”
The conversation heats up, as the woman insists, “do not call me transphobic”.
The transgender employee then claps in the woman’s face and denies her request for a refund, adding: “You are transphobic, now get out.”
The customer stands her ground and then the employee suddenly lunges for the phone of a man who was filming the exchange.
In a statement, Starbucks told The Eye Of Media.Com: “The licensee has confirmed that the partner (employee) no longer works at the company. Starbucks has no tolerance for behaviour of this kind, and we are very sorry for the experience that this customer had.”
Starbucks is run by a licensee called 25 degree , with one of its senior employees from the store stating that it is committed to building a culture where everyone is welcome. and is also a long time ally of LGBT.