The creator of a viral GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $100,000 is being sued by a California woman who shamed a barista online for asking her to wear a mask inside a Starbucks store in San Diego.
Matt Cowan created the “Tips for Lenin” GoFundMe last summer after Amber Gilles, a yoga instructor, accused a Starbucks barista of refusing her service for not wearing a mask.
Gilles’ June 22 Facebook rant about Lenin Gutierrez prompted an outpouring of money and support for the barista.
“Meet lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause I’m not wearing a mask. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption,” Giles wrote in the now-removed post.
Last July, Gilles asked Cowan for half of the $105,445 raised. Last week she filed a lawsuit against Cowan and his company, Mercy Media, for “violation of her right to publicity,” “misappropriation of her name and likeness,” and “false light invasion of privacy.”
Costco minimum wage:Costco to increase its minimum wage to $16 per hour, but CEO says the average pay for hourly workers is $24
Best Buy store closings:Best Buy expected to close even more stores in 2021 than usual as consumers buy more online
Mask compliance has sparked debates throughout the coronavirus pandemic after Americans received mixed messages from authorities early on over whether they should wear face coverings in public places.
Local governments can decide what safety measures to impose on businesses, but individual…
