https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12114965/Starbucks-manager-ranted-woman-transphobic-claims-victim-hate-crime.htmlStarbucks manager who was sacked after viral video showed her ranting at a woman for 'being transphobic' claims to be victim of a hate crime and says the customer had used the word 'lady' in a 'deliberate and spiteful' way
Luna Spain says Vanessa Thomas was 'abusive' to staff before recording started
By Vivek Chaudhary
Published: 10:13, 24 May 2023 | Updated: 13:54, 24 May 2023
A Starbucks manager filmed screaming at a customer for being ‘transphobic’ has claimed she was the victim of a hate crime after being abused about her gender and called a ‘tranny’. Luna Spain, 28, was caught on camera berating Vanessa Thomas, clapping in her face, calling her a ‘Karen’, and then throwing her out of a Starbucks in Southampton after the two became embroiled in a trans row. A video of the incident went viral, but Ms Spain has broken her silence, claiming that the footage does not tell the whole story. She insisted: ‘I’m the victim of a transphobic hate crime, but I’m being treated like a criminal. The viral video doesn’t show the customer calling us trannies and going on a rant about gender. It doesn’t show how it started with her screaming about why we don’t accept cash and demanding that we do. The internet’s been filled with lies.’
But Ms Thomas has categorically denied the allegations, insisting she was not abusive or threatening and that she is not transphobic. In an interview with Vice News, Ms Spain alleged Ms Thomas was ‘rude and abusive’ as she tried to serve her and said she reacted with fury when she was told she couldn’t pay using cash. Ms Spain said the customer started ‘losing her mind’ after she deliberately misgendered a colleague standing next to her and that she corrected her ‘pronouns'. Ms Thomas claimed the whole row stemmed from her using the word 'lady' to describe a member of staff serving her without realising that they did not identify as a woman. They were discussing why Starbucks did not accept cash and as Ms Spain, who was standing nearby intervened, Ms Thomas claims that she told her: ‘I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the lady behind the counter.'
This prompted Ms Spain, who was standing close by, to confront her for using the wrong gender to describe her colleague. Ms Spain insisted that Ms Thomas’s use of the word ‘lady’ was ‘deliberate and spiteful’.
She said: ‘[Ms Thomas] said, “What is it with you trannies and all this gender stuff” and, “With you trannies it’s always all about gender."
I cut her off and told her she’s not getting served. I asked her to come to the till and get a refund. 'But instead, she started getting louder and louder. She was calling me “a man” as much as she could, and calling my colleague who is a trans man “a woman” in front of a full store of customers and colleagues.’
Ms Spain claimed it was at this point she lost her temper and insisted Ms Thomas leave the store and that this is the only part that was filmed. She said it was the customer who was ‘a massive problem’ not her. The incident was filmed by Ms Thomas’s partner Mark Andrews. Ms Spain is also caught on camera attacking him while trying to seize his mobile phone. Explaining her actions, she said she only wanted the video to be deleted because she did not want to be shamed online like other trans people have been in the past. Ms Thomas claimed that when she didn’t get the video she escorted Ms Thomas from the store, claiming it was ‘unfortunate’ when the glass door cracked when she closed it. Following the incident, Ms Spain revealed she was dismissed from her job without a formal disciplinary process taking place and that she did not even have a chance to explain to her bosses what took place. She said: ‘I'm angry, I'm upset, and I'm experiencing the worst mental health of my life, all while the customer laughs about it on Facebook. What do they want me to do? De-transition?'
Ms Spain continued: ‘I definitely expected disciplinary action, that’s what they said would happen, but I didn’t expect to lose my job. It’s like they were trying to do damage control. HR suddenly called me and pushed me to hand in my notice, and when I didn’t, I received an email terminating my employment one hour later. There was no investigation, no meeting, just a cold email.’
Ms Spain claimed she had reported Ms Thomas to police and also demanded a letter of apology from her former employers for not investigating the matter. Ms Thomas hit back at the allegations and insisted: ‘None of what she’s said is true. I’m totally innocent and not transphobic. At all times I behaved properly and did not start this argument. It’s complete nonsense what’s being said about me.’
A spokesman for Starbucks said: ‘We pride ourselves on offering a welcoming and inclusive environment, and expect everyone, including our green apron partners, employees and customers, to treat one another with dignity and respect. Following an investigation, it was determined by the licensee that this partner be separated from the company.’
