Activist who doxed Kroger manager for not enforcing mask rule slammed for using platform to shame worker
On Friday, August 7, civil rights activist and podcaster Danielle Muscato took to Twitter to talk about an incident that happened to her. At a Kroger outlet, a retail chain, in Louisville, Kentucky, she claimed that she was threatened with assault when she asked another customer to wear a mask. The person allegedly refused.
“I reported it to a manager, who found her and talked to her, but refused to do anything more. His name is Andy, and he does not want Twitter to know that,” wrote Muscato, sharing two photos of the manager but none of the woman who threatened her. “I didn't get a pic of the woman who threatened me. But it's all on camera, @Kroger has footage. I asked the manager about that footage, too, and he blew me off. Kroger, this is unacceptable,” she further wrote.
I didn't get a pic of the woman who threatened me. But it's all on camera, @Kroger has footage. I asked the manager about that footage, too, and he blew me off.
— Danielle Muscato (@DanielleMuscato) August 8, 2020
Kroger, this is unacceptable.
Muscato, in a long thread, stated that the guard -- allegedly an off-duty cop -- at Kroger did not intervene and that neither the security person nor the manager, Andy, did anything to check people who weren’t maintaining proper pandemic safety. “The right thing to do would be to tell them they cannot check out and must leave for threatening another customer, and aren't allowed back. Even if they weren't willing to go that far, they should have said we won't ring you up without a mask. It's the law and it's store policy,” she wrote.
The right thing to do would be to tell them they cannot check out and must leave for threatening another customer, and aren't allowed back. Even if they weren't willing to go that far, they should have said we won't ring you up without a mask. It's the law and it's store policy.
— Danielle Muscato (@DanielleMuscato) August 8, 2020
But Muscato’s Twitter thread did not endear her to a lot of people. And on August 8, “Leave Andy alone” was trending on Twitter with many accusing Muscato of bullying and doxxing the Kroger manager.
“People who refuse to wear a mask are utter trash, but so are blue checks who use their social media platforms to harass minimum wage-earning employees. Leave Andy alone, checkmark,” wrote a Twitter user.
Many others, while condemning Muscato, also offered their support to the manager. “Dear Andy, I didn’t want the Twitter world to know my name either. Turns out it isn’t half bad. If you need someone to talk to... I’m here for you. (Can we stop using social media as a tool to shame people at their place of work?)” wrote a Twitter user.
Many Twitter users pointed out that low-earning store staff only have so much power to enforce policies. “Why don't you leave underpaid, overworked, and stressed-out retail employees alone? Or better yet, be grateful they're willing to potentially put themselves in harm's way to make sure stores stay open. If you're not totally embarrassed, you should be,” wrote a Twitter user.
Why don't you leave underpaid, overworked, and stressed-out retail employees alone? Or better yet, be grateful they're willing to potentially put themselves in harm's way to make sure stores stay open.
— Colin Moriarty (@notaxation) August 8, 2020
If you're not totally embarrassed, you should be.
More people also pointed out that shaming a retail worker like this on social media was a misuse of one’s social capital. “Calling out an essential worker/laborer on Twitter because you are unhappy with how he handled a situation is a gross abuse of your personal influence. This is shameful and I hope that the internet rallies around #KrogerAndy,” wrote a Twitter user.
Many more, as they rallied around the manager, also asked Kroger to give Andy a raise. “@kroger, Andy deserves a raise for dealing with people like Danielle,” wrote a Twitter user. Another said, “I stand with Andy! Let’s all take the Andy pledge! @koger should give Andy a raise.”