CHICAGO — The former employer of a woman caught on video ranting at Lakeview Michaels employees last week wants angry viewers of the video to know: She doesn't work there anymore.
Hours after video of a woman calling Michaels employees "animals" went viral, information on her identity began circulating online — including a LinkedIn profile that said she worked as a human resources business partner at Sinai Health System.
Commenters angered about the woman's behavior began flooding Sinai with phone calls, apparently forcing the Chicago-based hospital to make a statement late Monday distancing itself from the video's star:
Backlash against the woman was widespread Monday, and those unhappy with her behavior not only called Sinai, but gave more than $18,000 to the Michaels manager who remained calm during the 45-minute ordeal.
The video also looked familiar to some people in Lakeview, who said this isn't the first time this woman has berated workers at neighborhood establishments.
In June, a Peet's Coffee customer started recording when the same woman apparently called a store manager in Boystown "a b----" and mocked him for working at a cafe, adding that she had a "$90,000 a year job."
The woman who recorded the Michaels rant, Chicagoan Jessie Grady, said she started the fundraiser to "make it up to the employee who was the main target of this racist attack."
"So many people know this employee and she means so much for the community," Grady said. "I want to use this money to empower her. She needs to have her voice."
According to Grady, the manager is an "inspiring" and "creative" woman who put her small design business on hold to work as a manager at Michaels to support her family.
As part of her small business, she knits scarves and hats for homeless teens in Chicago every year, Grady said. The manager also told Grady she wants to earn a degree in psychology so she can become a guidance counselor for the city's youth.
Although the customer threatened to contact Michaels corporate about the incident, Grady said she too reached out and was told the company was standing by its employees in the matter.
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