Employees Didn’t Beat up a Customer for Not Wearing a Mask

Drew Fossen

Politics

9th March 2021

Employees Didn’t Beat up a Customer for Not Wearing a Mask

The fight began over someone cutting in line (Getty Images).

The Claim

A video shows Bath & Body Works employees beating up a customer for not wearing a mask.

News posted on

Emerging story

On March 7th, a video was posted of a fight at Bath & Body Works. It appears to show employees wrestling and fighting with two customers. Twitter user ArtValley818 shared the video on Twitter claiming, “Bath and Body Works employees beat up a customers [sic] for apparently not wearing a mask. Time for this woman to lawyer up and sue them for every penny they have!!!”

The original video was viewed over 46 million times and spread all over social media. It was shared by popular accounts such as Barstool Sports. Memes began to circulate as users weighed in with their opinions.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s investigation found this claim to be fake. The fight occurred at a Bath & Body Works in the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale, Arizona. According to the Scottsdale Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Kevin Quon, the fight started over someone cutting in line and that it was "not mask nor race related."

The person who recorded the video told TMZ that the fight began when one woman was standing too close to another customer. They started arguing, and employees intervened. “At some point, somebody put hands on the other ... and all hell broke loose.”

Scottsdale Police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Briana Johnson and her mother-in-law, 45-year-old Johlyn O'Daniel.

"Interviews were conducted with witnesses. Involved subjects and surveillance video was reviewed by the responding officers. Based on the evidence it was determined probable cause existed for the charging of Johnson and O’Daniel for the misdemeanor offenses of Assault and Disorderly Conduct," stated SPD.

A video posted on YouTube by Just In shows the beginning of the altercation, and it is clear that the fight was originally between customers. Employees got involved only to deescalate the situation. They did not beat up a customer for not wearing a mask.