San Francisco, California — A prominent fitness tracking app, Strava, has parted ways with an employee following an incident of aggressive behavior captured on video at a local restaurant. The incident occurred when the employee allegedly assaulted staff after being denied service due to her intoxication.
The individual involved, identified by the San Francisco Police Department as Shireen Afkari, previously held a senior position at Strava. Her LinkedIn profile has since been removed. Surveillance footage from Hazie’s restaurant in the Hayes Valley neighborhood depicts a chaotic scene where Afkari was seen verbally and physically confronting employees.
According to witnesses, the night began when Afkari and a companion arrived at the restaurant requesting dinner service. Bartender Miguel Marchese reported that staff quickly expressed concerns about the couple’s level of inebriation. “They were giving the server a hard time and were quite abrasive,” Marchese stated. After attempts to intervene, the restaurant manager decided to remove their drinks and asked them to leave.
The viral video, which has garnered significant attention, shows Afkari shouting and hurling insults at staff members, further escalating the situation. At one point, she lunged at the camera, initiating a physical altercation with a male employee trying to manage the situation.
As the argument intensified, restaurant staff attempted to escort the pair outside. Yet, the confrontation continued on the street, where Afkari was seen kicking and grappling with Marchese, who later described the ordeal as painful. “She wrapped my hair around her hand,” he recalled, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the encounter.
The incident drew the attention of other diners, some of whom cheered as the employees managed to evict the disruptive couple. However, Afkari’s aggressive behavior persisted even outside the restaurant. She attempted to reenter, causing further uproar before finally being detained by police for public intoxication.
In a statement issued on social media, Strava expressed their disapproval of the actions, emphasizing that such behavior does not align with the standards expected of their employees. The company confirmed that the decision to terminate Afkari’s employment was made shortly after the incident came to their attention.
Marchese reflected on the challenges faced by hospitality workers, stating, “People in this industry deal with a lot. You have to move on.” The alarming episode serves as a reminder of the pressures that restaurant staff endure while navigating intoxicated patrons during the holiday season.