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Teenager Says Starbucks Employee Told Her Not To Help Homeless Man
Featured Image Credit: PA
Some people try to go above and beyond to help out those who are living rough on the street. If they've got some spare change they'll chuck it in their cup or even nip to the nearest shop and grab them a sandwich.
That's what Amy McIlory, 14, tried to do when she went into a Starbucks in Glasgow.
Seeing homeless man Liam Anderson, 20, on the street, she went into the coffee shop and ordered a meal for him. According to Ms McIlory, a staff member told her she'd be 'better off saving my money and letting nature take its course'.
She recalled the incident on Twitter and the post quickly went viral, with thousands of people liking, sharing and commenting on it.
so fkn disgusted! @StarbucksUK went in to one of your glasgow branches to get some food for a 16y/o homeless boy who was PHYSICALLY SHAKING from the cold and was told off a worker that id be better "saving my money and letting nature take its course" im at a loss for words
- Amy x (@amy_mcil) January 14, 2018
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Amy said: "I was really taken aback when the barista said that because I've never experienced that type of hatred or ignorance towards a stranger who hasn't done anything to merit such vile behaviour."
When the 14-year-old wrote on Twitter, she said she was 'fucking disgusted' by the ordeal and it seemed like a lot of other people were as well.
What kind of heartless bastard could say this about any human? Hear so many horror stories about Starbucks, you wonder what their teaching/training process is.
- Michael (@__MC7__) January 15, 2018
That's disgusting. Why is it that so many human beings are incapable of showing even an ounce of empathy?
- Sophie :rainbow: (@riotSoph) January 16, 2018
Some people just don't know how well of they are They even try and stop others performing any acts of kindness. World full of sad sickos not an ounce of decency left in them. What a world we have to live in.Very Sad.
- MRS USHA COLTMAN (@MrsUsha) January 16, 2018
Michael wrote: "What kind of heartless bastard could say this about any human? Hear so many horror stories about Starbucks, you wonder what their teaching/training process is."
Sophie added: "That's disgusting. Why is it that so many human beings are incapable of showing even an ounce of empathy?"
The homeless man at the centre of the debacle, Liam, has told the Mail Online: "When the girl bought me a Starbucks, it was quite overwhelming, to be honest. I thought, 'Wow, people do care!'
"'I became homeless because my mum neglected me since I was about 14. Me and my sister went through care... I tried to leave care and now I'm waiting until social work gets me a house."
Hi Amy, we're concerned to hear about this. Can you send us a DM with the store and the time you visited so we can fully investigate?
- Starbucks UK (@StarbucksUK) January 15, 2018
Starbucks has responded to the tweet, saying to the teenager: "Hi Amy, we're concerned to hear about this. Can you send us a DM with the store and the time you visited so we can fully investigate?"
While Starbucks has an initiative, called 'suspended coffee' to help people like the homeless, there have been other instances of staff behaving negatively against them.
Last year a barista in a Macclesfield café reportedly said a homeless man 'fucking stinks' in front of customers and tried to get him removed.
Two months later in Glasgow, customers reported to the Sun that staff threw a homeless man out of the store while he was trying to buy food.
Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Express , Sun
