Woman Arrested and Fired After Violent TikTok‑Video Incident at San Francisco Restaurant

A TikTok clip that spread across social media has now landed a woman in police custody and on the chopping block at her job after a heated confrontation with staff at Haz’s restaurant in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley.

The Viral Incident

The footage, posted to TikTok and reposted repeatedly on other platforms, shows Shireen Afkari behind the bar holding her phone to record herself while shouting expletives at the staff. The video captures a series of escalating actions, including Afkari slapping a phone out of a staff member’s hand and then struggling with him over the device. A separate angle shows her striking a busser, and another moment depicts her approaching an off‑duty employee who eventually drops her to the floor.

Staff and Manager Reactions

Bartender Michael Marchese, who was on duty, said he and his colleagues were trying to diffuse the situation and document it, but Afkari would not relent. Marchese recalled, “She was quite enraged,” and added, “A lot of people were like, ‘Oh, she was on the verge of leaving.’ She wasn’t. She ended up slapping one of the bussers, I believe.” The manager on duty explained that he had already cut off the couple because they had consumed too much alcohol before entering the restaurant, a factor that the staff believe set Afkari off in the first place.

Physical Escalation

As the video progresses, Marchese is forced to remove Afkari from the premises while others remove the man who was with her. Afkari then grabs Marchese’s hair and refuses to let go. Marchese later described the incident: “I needed to give her an incentive to let me go, so I grabbed her phone and, yeah, I chucked it across the street hoping she would run after it,” he said. Afkari chased after the phone, and Marchese responded by tripping her, after which he returned to the restaurant to distance himself from the confrontation.

Legal and Employment Consequences

According to San Francisco police, Afkari was arrested and detained for public intoxication. The incident has also led to her termination from her position at Haz’s. A post pinned to the fitness app Strava’s Instagram account reads, “We don’t condone violence of any kind and this does not reflect the standards we expect of our team.”

Media Outreach

NBC Bay Area attempted to contact Afkari for comment but was unable to reach her. The outlet has yet to publish any statement from the woman involved.

Bartender’s Reflection

Marchese said he was not injured and expressed gratitude for the support he has received. He added, “People who work in hospitality go through a lot,” and continued, “I’ve been spat on, I’ve been slapped at a bar before, homophobic slurs, been sexualized by guests. It just happens and, you know, you gotta move on.”

Key Takeaways

• Shireen Afkari was arrested for public intoxication after a violent altercation captured on TikTok at Haz’s restaurant.
• The incident resulted in her firing, with the restaurant issuing a public statement condemning violence.
• Bartender Michael Marchese, who intervened, reported no injuries and highlighted the challenges faced by hospitality workers.

The viral clip, the ensuing confrontation, and the subsequent legal and employment actions have brought renewed attention to the pressures within San Francisco’s nightlife scene and the importance of workplace safety.