SerpApi.Org
A 2022 clip of a Starbucks employee getting reprimanded for using her AirPods while at work after being told not to, is resurfacing online. The clip, reportedly recorded by the Starbucks employee, identified as Laila Dalton, showed her claiming she was being singled out because of her race. The location of the incident has not been confirmed.
The clip featured the Starbucks manager issuing a written warning to Laila for wearing AirPods while “on the clock.” During the exchange, Laila defended herself by arguing that other employees were doing the same thing, but she was the only one who received a warning because she was Black.
“This is all because I’m black and it’s really, really sad that you guys are doing this to me. It’s sad that you guys don’t care about us,” said Laila in the video.
“They’ve Been Doing It Way Before Me”: Starbucks Employee Claims Other Workers Were Wearing AirPods Before Her
When the manager attempted to issue Laila a written warning, she asked whether two other employees — Ava and Tyler — had also received write-ups, saying they had been wearing AirPods at work before she did.
“Are you going to give Ava and Tyler a write-up? Have you given them a write-up yet? Because they’ve been doing it way before me. I’m not throwing them under the bus. It’s just that Tyler’s been doing it since over a year ago,” Laila said in the video.
In response, the manager thanked her for bringing it to her attention and said that she wanted to have a “respectful conversation about what happened with you,” adding, “we’ll get through this.”
Dalton said she did not want to answer questions or sign anything without a lawyer and further accused the Starbucks management of not “caring about us.”
“I’m very, very, very, very appalled that you’re attacking me again because of my race, obviously,” she said.
Suddenly, Dalton’s voice became emotional as she said that she would not wear AirPods again. She acknowledged that she had worn them twice and removed them, but said she did not expect to receive a write-up “after so many other people wear them for over…since the store started.” Dalton began crying and said she could not continue speaking with the manager or work that day, adding that she wanted to go home.
“Why are you discriminating me? I don’t understand what I did wrong to you. It’s all because I’m black? I don’t understand,” questioned Laila.
The manager said that despite a prior conversation, Dalton had continued wearing AirPods on different days, which management said posed a food safety risk. The video ended abruptly before the exchange concluded.
“Where is Tyler’s write-up before mine? Why is my write-up before Tyler’s? It’s because I’m Black. So this is attack. This is discrimination, and I can’t talk from now on. I need a lawyer. I need a lawyer right now. I need to call my mom right now,” Laila added.
The video drew mixed reactions online, with some arguing the warning was related to workplace policy rather than race, while others were more sympathetic to Dalton’s account.
“That manager would be wise to fire that person immediately. The minute she whined “racism” was a red flag that she would use her race in all future dealings with that manager,” one X user wrote, while another user commented, “lol people with air pods don’t respond, customer facing job should not have air pods.”
“I have had this exact same act pulled on me by a black employee who was always late. ‘Racism’ he cried. I simply said “What time does your shift start?” The simplest question had no answer so get the f— out,” a third user stated.
