A confrontation over masks in at Frapys Yogurt in Mission Viejo, captured on video by the shop’s co-owner, has gone viral on Twitter, racking up more than 900,000 views since it was posted. (Photo via Google Street View)
A confrontation over masks in a Mission Viejo yogurt shop, captured on video by the shop’s co-owner, has gone viral on Twitter, racking up more than 900,000 views since it was posted on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The incident occurred Saturday when a man and woman walked into Frapys Yogurt and were asked to wear face masks – in accordance with state and county health rules – if they wanted service.
Mariana Tabla, a co-owner in the business on Vía Fabricante, tells them about the store’s policy in the video.
Mission Viejo, CA:
These two fake lawyers went to Frapys Frozen Yogurt and tried to intimidate a young attendant who politely asked them to wear a mask.
It never ends. Let’s make ‘em famous… pic.twitter.com/u1DrqmmNs8
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) October 28, 2020
The man replies that he has a “medical condition” and that if she refuses to serve him, she can be personally sued for violating a state law that prohibits discrimination by businesses.
“It’ll probably be the end of this business, just so you know,” the unidentified man says.
The woman then takes out her cell phone and records what Tabla is telling them.
“You’re discriminating, and you’re breaking the law, and you can personally be sued, you realize that?” the woman asks. “You take responsibility for that? Good to know. I got it on camera, and you will be personally sued.”
After refusing to give Tabla their names, the couple then heads to the shop’s front door.
“And, you know what, when all this goes away, if it ever does, we’ll never come back again,” the woman says as they leave.
Tabla said she was enforcing the store’s policy to protect customers and provide a safe place for people to purchase and enjoy their food.
“I just asked them to have a mask,” she said on Wednesday. “We have two sections – a patio where people can sit and eat their yogurt and one section that has the toppings and yogurt machines where we require face masks. When I asked them about the face mask, they jumped on me.”
The entire incident lasted only a few seconds.
“I recorded it to have the correct words, so it’s not my word against theirs,” Tabla said.
Tabla said the couple had been customers before, but they had not been to the yogurt shop since pandemic-related restrictions began in March.
While many business owners have voiced similar complaints, enforcement typically relies on the cooperation of the public.
County Health officials on Wednesday said they had not tracked the number of complaints that businesses or public facilities have dealt with since the start of the pandemic.
“The business entity can seek legal counsel,” Dr. Clayton Chau, the county’s Health Officer, said in a statement. “I don’t see this as any different from a business not allowing people to come in without proper attire such as shoes and shirts.”
