Woman accused of Starbucks 'transphobia' says she feared for her life
EXCLUSIVE Woman, 55, accused by trans Starbucks manager of being ‘transphobic’ says she feared for her life when she was thrown out of cafe ‘for calling non-binary employee “lady”‘
- Vanessa Thomas was accused of being ‘transphobic’ by trans Starbucks worker
- Read: Police launch probe after transgender worker allegedly assaulted person
A woman accused of being ‘transphobic’ in Starbucks has revealed how she feared for her life after being thrown out of the café for using the word ‘lady’ to describe a non-binary member of staff.
Vanessa Thomas, 55, was seen on camera being screamed at by the store manager, who is trans, near the ferry terminal of Southampton, Hampshire, after taking exception to her calling the worker a woman.
The footage was filmed by her partner Mark Andrews who revealed that he too feared for his safety as the manager of the store – which is partially owned by a licensor – tried to grab his mobile phone from him and smash it.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Ms Thomas said: ‘The video does not tell you the whole story. It was very frightening and shocking. The Starbucks manager grabbed me and threw me out of the café. I could have been seriously hurt or even killed because if Mark hadn’t caught me, I would have crashed onto the pavement.
‘What happened was disgusting and so far, we have not even received an apology from Starbucks. I’m 100% not transphobic or trans anything. That’s not just me at all. This manager behaved in an appalling way and should be prosecuted for seriously assaulting me.’
Vanessa Thomas, pictured with partner Mark Andrews, has revealed how she feared for her life after being thrown out of the café for using the word ‘lady’ to describe a member of staff without realising that they did not identify as a woman
Vanessa (pictured) was seen on camera being screamed at by a trans Starbucks store manager at the branch near the ferry terminal of Southampton, Hampshire
Mr Andrews, a builder, added: ‘I’m quite a big lad but even I was very scared. When I saw the altercation developing, I got my phone out and started filming. Then I saw the manager come over to me and didn’t realise what they were going to do.
READ MORE: Police launch probe after trans Starbucks worker was filmed aggressively accusing customer of being transphobic then ‘assaulting’ person filming the incident
‘The manager just lunged at me and could have really hurt both myself and Vanessa. He had his hands on my phone and then he was trying to grab my arms to try and get it off me to stop me from filming. Both of us are still very shocked and upset by what happened. We’ve never experienced anything like this.’
The couple, who live on the Isle of Wight, revealed that they had gone to Southampton for a shopping trip on 30 April and were waiting for the ferry to return home at around 4.45pm.
Ms Thomas said that the altercation started after she was informed by a Starbucks employee serving her that they did not accept cash payments.
She added: ‘I was speaking with somebody who I thought was a lady behind the counter who was serving me. I complained that this is another company that doesn’t take cash and that I don’t like using contactless cards because I don’t want anybody to know what I’m buying.
‘The trans store manager then jumped in and I said: ‘I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the lady behind the counter.’ And that’s when the store manager went totally ballistic, came around from behind the counter and confronted me.’
When the row broke out, Ms Thomas demanded a refund but was refused by the store manager.
She added: ‘I wasn’t trying to offend anyone. I’ve got no problems with whatever gender people want to be. It was a genuine mistake because as far as I could see the person behind the counter was female. But genders are not so straightforward these days, which is fine, but it can be confusing.’
During the angry confrontation, footage shows Ms Thomas defending herself and stating: ‘You’re rude, don’t ever call me transphobic, ever. You do not know me.’
The incident was recorded by Ms Thomas’s partner Mark Andrews, 60, who posted it on social media
A transgender woman was sacked by Starbucks after footage showed her berating Ms Thomas and allegedly assaulting her partner who filmed the incident
Footage shows the transgender woman approaching the man filming after the row before knocking his phone out his hand
In response, the transgender Starbucks manager says: ‘You’re calling me a man, you’re being transphobic, Karen. Now get out.’
‘Karen’ is a derisive insult imported from the US, taking aim at white, middle-aged women. Feminists have criticised it as a misogynistic term.
The conversation heats up, as Ms Thomas insists, ‘do not call me transphobic’.
The transgender employee then claps in Ms Thomas’s face and denies her request for a refund, adding: ‘You are transphobic, now get out.’
Ms Thomas, who works as a carer, said that she and Mr Andrews had purchased a fruit juice, latte and cake which cost them £10 and that soon after the row started with the trans store manager she asked for a refund.
She added: ‘I just wanted to leave and get my money back, but the manager said I couldn’t have a refund, which I found insulting.’
Ms Thomas said that after being grabbed and thrown out of the Starbucks, the store manager slammed a glass front door shut with such ferocity that it smashed.
She said: ‘The store manager then grabbed their coat and ran out of the front door, which was a very cowardly thing to do. They didn’t even have the courage to explain themselves and just wanted to get the hell out of there.’
The couple revealed that they contacted police immediately after the incident who are now investigating the matter.
Ms Thomas said that she has also sent numerous emails to Starbucks requesting CCTV of the incident, demanding an apology and requesting a refund.
She said: ‘Starbucks haven’t even had the decency to respond properly to my emails, they just want to wash their hands of the matter. The least they could do is give me my £10 back, it’s not very much but it’s all hard-earned cash.’
Ms Thomas said that the altercation started after she was informed by a Starbucks employee serving her that they did not accept cash payments
Ms Thomas said that after being grabbed and thrown out of the Starbucks, the store manager slammed a glass front door shut with such ferocity that it smashed
Mr Andrews fumed: ‘Starbucks just want to bury their head in the sand. Vanessa has sent them quite a few emails and from the responses we’ve had, it appears that they just want to forget about the whole thing.’
The couple are currently on holiday in Tenerife, which they said, is helping them come to terms with their ordeal.
Ms Thomas said: ‘I’m still very shocked and upset by what happened and the holiday has certainly helped. I didn’t behave in a bad way and don’t expect to be treated like this while buying a coffee.
‘I’ve had a lot of supportive messages from friends, they know what I’m like and I’m not the kind of person who has a problem with trans people or anybody else for that matter.’
A Starbucks spokesman said earlier this week: ‘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.’
The company has been approached for further comment.
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