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Customer bullies Target employee over Charlie Kirk shirt, but it doesn’t go quite as planned

December 17, 2025 | | Print Article

An attempt to shame a department store employee over her Charlie Kirk shirt backfired bigly on a woman dubbed the “Target Karen,” as the respective impacts had a stark contrast.

Pairing a sense of moral superiority with pocket-sized global streaming devices too often has proven a scourge on the peace of innocent bystanders. Now, one such case has led to a crowdfunding campaign following a police investigation after a TikToker berated a Chico, California, Target employee as “f*cking stupid” for her red Charlie Kirk “Freedom” t-shirt.

“It’s a red shirt. I can wear any red shirt,” explained the employee, believed to be named Jeanie, as she was recorded by a woman since identified as Michelea Ponce, who insisted, “It’s a Charlie Kirk shirt.”

“Oh yes, I know,” responded the employee who was asked by the irate woman dubbed “Target Karen,” “Are you f*cking stupid? … Why the f*ck would you wear that? You’re at work at Target … You support a racist?”

Warning: Language

Maintaining her composure throughout the exchange, the employee went on to say, “I’m sorry, but I’m not gonna stand here and argue with you.”

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It was then that Ponce earned her moniker as she replied, “You’re not. You should go get your manager. You should not be allowed to wear that at work. Unacceptable. Un-f*cking-acceptable.”

“That’s your opinion, ma’am. Have a nice day,” asserted the employee who went on to walk away as the TikToker muttered “piece of sh*t.”

Outrage over the unwarranted harassment found social media users vying to identify Ponce, who made her TikTok account with nearly 20,000 followers private.

She is said to be an employee of the nonprofit health system Enloe Health and, as the account I Meme Therefore I Am described, “She is an ‘anti-racism’ activist who decided to post a video of herself chastising and calling a Target employee ‘f*cking stupid,’ accusing her of supporting a ‘racist’ simply because the staffer was wearing Charlie Kirk’s ‘Freedom’ shirt.”

“Ponce could have politely addressed the issue with a store manager, but instead she chose to demonize the employee and shame her on the internet,” added the account in the caption of an image of the alleged TikToker wearing a MAGA-style hat that read “MAKE RACISM WRONG AGAIN.”

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Those rallying to support the employee prompted a statement from Enloe Health that detailed an investigation was underway by the Chico Police Department.

“We are deeply concerned about the tenor of this post and the response it is creating from individuals of all political persuasions,” read the statement in part as the nonprofit detailed it was conducting its own internal investigation with reliance on police “to investigate any potential criminal activity or threats related to it.”

Enloe Health went on to share a special phone number and email address for comments on the post because it had been inundated over their employee’s behavior.

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Meanwhile, as reactions continued to slam Ponce for the treatment of an elderly woman, support for the Target employee advanced on multiple fronts. In addition to a crowdfunding campaign nearing $70,000 toward providing her a vacation, Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer expressed his aim to honor her as he posted on X, “Let’s bring this sweet lady who was attacked by this commie to Amfest and treat her like the innocent, patriotic hero she is.”

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Kevin Haggerty
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