Table of Contents
- 1. San Francisco incident Prompts Strava to Fire Senior Marketing Executive After Viral Hazie’s Video
- 2. What happened
- 3. Company response and aftermath
- 4. Key facts at a glance
- 5. Context and evergreen takeaways
- 6. Engagement: your thoughts
- 7. Why do virtual assistants sometimes respond with “I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that”?
San Francisco, December 19, 2025 – A senior growth marketing manager at Strava was terminated after a viral altercation at Hazie’s, a popular San Francisco resturant. The incident, captured on camera and shared across social media, occurred Saturday evening and drew wide attention online.
What happened
Witness video shows Shireen Afkari, then-identified as Strava’s senior manager of growth marketing, arguing with hazie’s staff and engaging in physical contact. The confrontation began when restaurant staff refused to serve Afkari and her partner, citing suspicions of intoxication. Afkari is seen yelling at workers and recording the scene with a mobile phone before the clash escalates with staffers.
Eyewitness accounts describe afkari pulling and grappling with bartenders and servers as the couple was escorted from the venue. A Hazie’s bartender told local outlets that Afkari said, and acted, in ways that created a risky situation for staff.
Following the incident, police detained Afkari on suspicion of public intoxication and she was taken to the county jail.Hazie’s staff have indicated thay do not intend to press charges at this time.
Company response and aftermath
A strava spokesperson acknowledged the off-hours behavior and condemned violence of any kind, noting it dose not reflect the company’s standards. The firm said it terminated Afkari’s employment this past Monday.
The episode also drew attention to Strava’s public-facing material surrounding its internal teams. A Strava post linked to the company’s “Trend Report” promotion appeared in social feeds around the same time as the firing, intensifying scrutiny of how tech companies handle personnel matters after viral events.
Local coverage confirmed Afkari’s role at Strava, and broader reporting has highlighted the rapid pace at which social-media visibility can influence corporate HR decisions.
Key facts at a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident location | Hazie’s restaurant, San francisco, California |
| Time of incident | Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday |
| Individuals involved | Shireen Afkari, former Strava senior manager of growth marketing; Afkari’s partner |
| What happened | Alleged intoxication, verbal abuse, and physical confrontation with staff; incident captured on video |
| Police action | Afkari arrested on suspicion of public intoxication; taken to county jail |
| Outcome for afkari | Termination of employment by Strava; staff at Hazie’s do not plan to press charges |
| Company statement | Condemned violence; stated that it ended the employee’s employment |
Context and evergreen takeaways
Incidents like this underscore how off-hours conduct can quickly influence a company’s public image and human-resources decisions, especially when captured on mobile devices and shared widely online. They also highlight ongoing conversations about accountability, brand risk, and how organizations respond to viral events in real time. As social media accelerates the visibility of private acts, firms increasingly weigh internal disciplinary actions against reputational considerations and customer/commercial impact.
For readers tracking corporate behavior in the digital age, the case offers a clear reminder: off-duty actions can trigger official consequences, and public responses from the involved organizations often aim to balance accountability with caution.
Engagement: your thoughts
- Should companies disclose details of personnel actions taken after viral incidents, or is privacy essential to fair process?
- What responsibilities do businesses have to protect staff when customers record confrontations in public venues?
Additional coverage and updates are available through local outlets and the company’s official statements as the situation develops. For related context, see coverage from SF Gate and KRON4 on the incident and subsequent actions.
Disclaimer: legal proceedings may evolve. Details is current as of this update and subject to change.
Share your thoughts below or join the discussion on social platforms to help us gauge public reaction to corporate responses after viral events.
Why do virtual assistants sometimes respond with “I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that”?
I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that.
