A Chipotle customer allegedly claimed that he had gotten his order wrong, violently attacked an employee behind the counter, and threatened to come back and “stab” the employee.
Video posted to X A woman was captured pushing an employee behind the counter and carrying an empty bowl at a fast-casual restaurant in Brentwood, Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
Disgruntled customers wave them off and heap food into bowls.
The argument escalated when the employee, Roberto Hernandez, tried to snatch a pile of food from her hands.
Mr. Hernandez reached over to grab the bowl from her, but she pulled the bowl away slightly and slapped Mr. Hernandez in the face, causing food to splatter around the workstation.
Mr Hernandez said the video, which has been viewed at least 8 million times, was a “trigger” for him as he was reeling from a severe assault at work.
Hernandez said. WUSA9 The furious customer was upset that his Uber Eats order was incorrect. The employee said her burrito bowl didn't have twice the amount of meat she claimed she had ordered, so she wanted a refund.
But Hernandez said he and his manager tried to tell him he couldn't get a refund and that he would have to contact Uber if he wanted a refund.
Hernandez also told the publication that when he checked his order receipt, he discovered he had not ordered double meat.
The Chipotle employee said he continued to get angry about the situation, so he went behind the counter, took matters into his own hands and started placing new orders.
Hernandez said he was attacked when he tried to stop the suspect.
“I was angry and upset, but I know I can't hit a woman because I'm a man,” Hernandez said. “So I left.”
The violent customer allegedly went online after the attack and threatened staff.
“Yesterday, she said, 'I'm going to come back and stab them and take their lives,'” he told the publication.
“It was scary. She was scaring my colleagues too.”
The unidentified customer also spoke to WUSA9 and claimed that employees refused to make new bowls or refund his money.
She claimed that the worker first made a move on her and that she only “threw” the bowl at the worker.
“I was not aggressive towards them until I was assaulted. The video was cut short,” she told the media.
Chipotle filed a police report alleging assault, but the woman plans to sue the fast food chain.
The fast-casual restaurant has had incidents of angry customers attacking employees in the past.
Last December, a Chipotle employee in North Carolina was pinned down and severely beaten by two unruly customers who told him he would be charged extra for chicken.
That same month, two women threw food and chairs at employees at a Chipotle in Maryland while cleaning.
