Work can sometimes be stressful, but that doesn’t justify treating innocent people poorly, even if you're having a bad day.
One Starbucks employee learned this the hard way after being caught on camera verbally insulting a tourist, which ultimately led to her dismissal.
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The incident, which went viral on Douyin (a Chinese social media platform), took place at a Starbucks outlet in KLIA2. It is understood that the customer and her companion both believed to be from China—were struggling to place their order in English.
Image Credit: Douyin
One of them was even seen using an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to help translate and communicate their order.
When the tourists asked for the price of the two drinks they had ordered, the staff responded in a noticeably impatient tone and informed them that one of the drinks was unavailable.
Image Credit: Douyin
To make matters worse, the staff was heard muttering the word “bodoh” (stupid) under her breath.
Understandably, Malaysians were outraged once the video went viral. Many urged the tourist to file a formal complaint about the staff’s behaviour.
Starbucks confirms that the employee has been terminated
Following the incident, Starbucks released a statement confirming that the employee featured in the video had been terminated, effective September 21, 2025.
In a statement, Starbucks expressed deep regret over the situation and assured the public that they are taking all necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Image Credit: Starbucks | Facebook
Featured Image Credit: Douyin, Starbucks | Facebook
