Strava Manager Terminated After Viral Restaurant Attack and Arrest

The Strava fitness tracking app has terminated an employee following her arrest for a violent incident in a San Francisco restaurant. The individual, identified as Shireen Afkari, reportedly assaulted staff at Hazie’s restaurant after they refused to serve her additional drinks due to her intoxication.

Background of the Incident

The altercation occurred on a Monday evening in December, around 9 PM. Afkari, who held a senior marketing position at Strava, was filmed engaging in abusive behavior. A video of the incident was later shared on TikTok, gaining significant viral attention.

Details of the Assault

According to Miguel Marchese, a bartender at Hazie’s, the couple arrived intoxicated and began requesting dinner service. Staff members expressed concern over their behavior, prompting the server to involve management. The restaurant manager intervened by removing cocktails from their table and asking them to leave, but the situation escalated rapidly.

Confrontation and Ejection

• Afkari began yelling and verbally abusing restaurant staff.
• She aggressively lunged at a camera filming the incident.
• As the confrontation intensified, she attacked a staff member while resisting attempts to be escorted out.

The video footage shows Afkari lunging at restaurant employees and attacking Marchese as they attempted to escort her outside. As she fought to maintain her grip on his hair, he used her phone as a distraction, ultimately managing to get her further away from the restaurant.

Legal Consequences

Police arrived shortly afterward, and Afkari was arrested for public intoxication. Her actions not only resulted in her termination from Strava but also sparked discussions about the treatment of hospitality workers.

Strava’s Response

In a public statement, Strava expressed its disapproval of violence and emphasized that the employee’s behavior did not reflect the company’s values. The app stated, “We are aware of an employee who exhibited extremely concerning off-hours behavior. We don’t condone violence of any kind.”

As the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by restaurant staff, Marchese noted the difficulties hospitality workers endure, highlighting the need for respect and understanding in public settings.