San Francisco Bartender Fired After Viral Altercation with Drunk Customer

Miguel Marchese, a 25-year-old bartender at Hazie's, an upscale restaurant in San Francisco, was fired following a viral altercation with a drunk female customer, Shireen Afkari, 32. The incident occurred on December 13, 2022, when Afkari and her boyfriend were refused service due to their intoxication. The situation escalated as Afkari entered the kitchen, leading to a physical confrontation with Marchese and another staff member. After being restrained and carried outside, Afkari attacked Marchese, pulling his hair until he managed to break free by throwing her phone away, prompting her to chase after it. During this chase, Marchese tripped her, resulting in her falling onto the sidewalk.

Daily Mail

Marchese was terminated via email with just one day's notice, with the restaurant citing concerns over liability due to his actions during the altercation. He was labeled an "insurance liability" by one of Hazie's owners, who expressed concern that Afkari might sue the establishment. Marchese claimed he was offered a $5,000 severance package on the condition that he would not speak negatively about the incident or the restaurant, which he declined. He stated, "I found it odd that I was getting fired when in reality, I did nothing wrong at the end of the day."

Daily Mail

Marchese had been employed at Hazie's since 2023 and had previously filed complaints with the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement regarding wage and tip theft, as well as issues accessing his employer-funded health care savings account. Following the incident, Hazie's is now under investigation by the same agency for these allegations.

Daily Mail

Despite the turmoil surrounding his dismissal, Marchese reported receiving significant public support, stating that people in the city approached him with gestures of kindness. "I would walk around the city and people would just give me a hug or shake my hand and tell me how much they supported me," he said. However, he expressed uncertainty about his future, emphasizing the need for his health to improve and for the stress of the situation to subside.

Daily Mail

In response to the incident and the subsequent public outcry, Hazie's released a statement acknowledging the support from the community. They expressed gratitude for the messages and generosity directed towards their team, stating, "Your messages, notes, and generosity have meant more to our team than we can fully express."

Daily Mail

While Marchese's account of the incident and his firing has been consistent, there is a lack of clarity regarding the actions taken against other employees involved in the altercation. Marchese noted that no other staff members, including one who physically restrained Afkari, faced termination. Additionally, the specific details surrounding the alleged severance package and the restaurant's internal investigation remain undisclosed.

Daily Mail

• "I found it odd that I was getting fired when in reality, I did nothing wrong at the end of the day." — Miguel Marchese, Former Bartender

Daily Mail

• "Your messages, notes, and generosity have meant more to our team than we can fully express." — Hazie's Statement

Daily Mail