San Francisco Bartender Laid Off After Incident with Drunken Customer

A bartender in San Francisco has been let go after he tripped a rowdy customer who was confronting staff for being sober.

Miguel Marchese, 25, was dismissed through an email on Saturday—this came weeks after an incident at the popular Haze’s, which was recorded on December 13. The footage shows an angry, intoxicated customer losing his drink, causing a scene, and clashing with the bar staff.

Interestingly, others involved in the fray, including a colleague who was seen hitting a woman during the ordeal, weren’t fired.

The viral video featured a high-ranking engineer, identified later as Shireen Afkari, who was also yelling and berating the staff, even entering the kitchen. At one point, Afkari reportedly grabbed Marchese by his hair and didn’t let go. As the inebriated customer attempted to rush back into the establishment, Marchese tripped him, sending him crashing to the ground.

Although Marchese received praise from some for his quick action, management informed him via email that tripping the unruly patron posed an “insurance risk” and could lead to potential lawsuits against the restaurant.

Haze’s, under the guidance of celebrity chef Joey Altman, allegedly offered Marchese a $5,000 severance if he agreed to a non-disclosure agreement and refrained from pursuing legal action. Marchese then contended that the restaurant was under investigation for issues related to wages and tips but chose not to sign the agreement.

In addition to the injuries from the incident, the restaurant highlighted Marchese’s social media posts, which expressed frustration over the lack of communication regarding the assault.

Marchese has shared that experiences from his military service made him resilient: “You get slapped, you get degraded, you get homophobic slurs, you get sexualized… it builds resilience over time,” he stated previously.

As for Haze’s, they haven’t commented on the issue yet.