Internet divided over bikini barista’s shocking act of revenge after wild moment customer throws drinks at her

This is the moment a bikini-clad barista takes revenge on her customer who threw his drink order at her – but not everyone is on her side.

Emma Lee, 23, owner of a Taste of Heaven espresso in South Seattle, served a man a 32-ounce coffee and 24-ounce water Tuesday when the couple had a heated argument over the $22 price.

After she told the customer that “you can’t name your own price,” he hit back and said, “No one will miss you.”

Surveillance footage showed the irate customer getting out of his car and throwing the large drinks at Lee before pulling out a hammer and smashing his windshield through the drive-thru window.

“It was a threat,” said Lee, who said she felt in danger. “It’s okay that he’s upset about the price of his drinks, enough to attack me, but it’s not appropriate for me to respond?”

The male customer is seen throwing his drinks at the bikini-clad Lee outside his car during their heated argument on Tuesday

At one point in the video, the man can be seen standing on the side of his car in front of the drive-thru window.

He reaches into the car and takes out the two drinks he just ordered and places them on the counter.

The pair begin arguing over the price, and Lee is heard telling the man, “There’s no $5 – you have two drinks, that’s not how this works,” she said.

He replied, “Keep the $15, give me $5…put it back, whatever it was.”

Holding the iced coffee she prepared for him, she tells him, standing behind the window of her coffee stand, “Get in your car and leave.”

She continued, “If you don’t leave, I’m going to throw this at you! Do you want me to?’ You’re making me take your damn drink and leave.”

‘I’ll take it. Keep the money, he said.

Lee is the only person working at A Taste of Heaven Espresso

The man is seen holding the drink containers. He then removes the lids from the drinks and throws them at her before getting back into his car.

Lee is heard swearing – with a hammer in hand – as she smashes part of his windshield.

“It was a threat after I screamed, spat and tried to pry open the window, I felt in danger,” Lee said Fox 13 Seattle.

After the ordeal, the customer refused to leave, prompting Lee to call the police. The man was not arrested, but had to leave the building.

“Obviously what happened was he attacked me, and I responded,” she said in part.

Lee, who works alone, said she was once an employee at A Taste of Heaven Espresso and bought the business when it became available.

She said she acted in self-defense and had the right to protect her property, and encourages others to do the same, especially women like herself.

The young business owner has filed charges of assault and the customer is banned from the stand.

However, the unknown man could take her to small claims court to pay for his broken windshield.

Later that afternoon, she posted on her Instagram her response to her video, which went viral and garnered more than 2,000 views.

“I want to take a moment to address the real issue here. The safety of women, specifically those who are disproportionately less protected,” she said.

‘We work alone in this industry, wear almost nothing and have contact with men (most of whom we don’t know) all day long. The majority of the people we meet during our services are friendly, respectful and overall wonderful people!’

‘However, occasionally we see people who think it is appropriate to become violent, both verbally and physically.

She said in part: “At what point during an attack does a woman have the right to protect herself? What is the correct answer?’

Lee explained that she knew the customer she had the dispute with, and claimed it was not the first time he had been disrespectful.

‘I know this man. This wasn’t the first time he’s been aggressive, but it’s the first time he’s ever become physically violent towards me. He got what he paid for and was angry at the price.

“The fact that the first thing people want to know is what I did to deserve him throwing two drinks at me is disgusting. We need to change the narrative of these conversations. What does that deserve?’

Emma Lee pictured in her barista shop

She added: ‘This is no longer the time of women who will smile and apologize, where our only acceptable response is the art of de-escalation – this time we will fight back!’

Most people supported Lee’s actions, with many calling her a local hero, while another woman in the industry shared their horror stories with customers.

‘You are great! This guy is a total creep! What a frightening situation. Glad you’re doing well,” one person wrote.

‘The hammer on the windshield was extremely satisfying!!! I’m so glad you not only stood up for yourself but for all of us girls in the industry!!,” said another.

‘We deal with it every day! Hopefully others will learn from this interaction.”

Another joked. ‘I’m not crazy, right? He said, ‘No one will miss you?’ Because that sounds like a threat to me. Be safe!’

Even Lee’s grandmother chimed in: “That’s my granddaughter,” she said proudly.

‘Fierce is strong in this family! As soon as he stepped out of his car he became an immediate threat and Emma followed him quickly and appropriately. That’s my girl.’

Others who watched the video were not as enthusiastic about what Lee did to the customer, and felt there was another way to handle the incident.

‘Woman threatens to throw drinks at man over request for refund. ‘Assaults’. Man takes drinks non-violently and throws them at a closed window, forcing ‘business owner’ to clean up a mess for $5 worth of entertainment,” one reader joked.

“So then you commit a crime and give him a severe beating… not a good look honey. I hope you mend your relationship with your father.’

Another said: ‘Shxt sounds like you’re shxting at ppl then playing victim.’

One reader was simply confused about the whole ordeal and asked: ‘I don’t understand – what did he do to you?’