‘You should not be allowed to wear that at work’: Target shopper spots worker in red Charlie Kirk shirt. Then she confronts her
A confrontation inside a Target store is gaining traction online after a customer filmed herself challenging a sales associate over the Charlie Kirk shirt she was wearing on the job.
The incident centers on a shopper named Michaela and a Target employee later identified by TikTok users as Miss Genie. In the clip, Michaela confronts the employee on the sales floor over a red shirt featuring the name Charlie Kirk, arguing it was inappropriate for work.
The exchange, which was later posted to Reddit, quickly took off, racking up thousands of likes and more than 2,500 comments as of Wednesday. Many viewers said the customer crossed a line.
Why did she call out the Charlie Kirk shirt?
The video, reposted to the r/PublicFreakout subreddit, shows Michaela approaching Miss Genie and questioning whether she’s allowed to wear the shirt while on the clock.
“Yes. Why?” the employee responds. “Why are you taking my picture?”
Michaela shoots back, “Why are you wearing that shirt? You’re working.”
Miss Genie explains she’s permitted to wear any red shirt, not just a plain one. But Michaela pushes further.
“Why the [expletive] would you wear that? You’re at work at Target,” she says. “That’s not a Target shirt. … You support a racist.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to sit here and argue with you,” Miss Genie replies.
“You should not be allowed to wear that at work. Unacceptable,” Michaela says. “You should not be allowed to wear that.”
“Have a nice day,” Miss Genie responds, before walking away.
The Video Spreads Online—And The Customer Gets Heat
As the clip spread, much of the backlash landed on the customer, not the Target employee.
Michaela’s complaint centered on the shirt referencing Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and ally of Donald Trump who was killed while speaking at a Utah college earlier this year. She claimed, without citing evidence, that the shirt violated Target’s dress code. Instead of flagging a manager, though, she chose to confront and film the employee directly.
“What could have been a simple report turned into a public back-and-forth with raised voices right in the store,” TikTok user @tiantianbao2728 said while reviewing the clip, noting that Miss Genie “stayed calm” and “didn’t assault anyone.”
“That composure ended up shaping how people reacted once the video spread online,” the user added, saying support for Miss Genie only grew as the clip went viral.
Across TikTok, commenters largely echoed that sentiment, praising the employee’s restraint and criticizing Michaela for escalating the situation.
“I never supported Charlie Kirk, but this is super wrong! They both have freedom of speech, and the other lady was just minding her business,” one woman commented under a post by TikTok user @desilvio11.0.
“The employee is a hero!!” another added.
“That employee was so polite, kind, and shared her opinion without violence,” a third said. “God bless her.”
“People like [Michaela] should be ashamed to treat people like this,” another commenter wrote.
Are Shirts Like That Appropriate In The Workplace?
Private employers generally get to decide what flies at work. This includes whether political slogans or campaign gear are allowed on the clock. That’s because the First Amendment doesn’t govern private workplaces. It limits what the government can do to your speech, not what a company can ask of its employees while they’re representing the business.
Many companies limit political attire because of what happened between Michaela and Miss Genie: It can spark tension with customers or co-workers, and courts have generally backed employers as long as the policy is applied consistently and doesn’t single out one viewpoint.
There are a few caveats, however. Some states, including California, offer broader protections for political activity. But even there, employers can typically require neutral attire while you’re on the clock.
The rules are stricter for government employees—and it appears that Miss Genie is not one. Federal workers, and many state and local employees, are barred from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty or in uniform. That includes wearing campaign gear at work.
The safest bet is to check your employee handbook or ask HR if you’re unsure, though keeping politics out of the office is often the path of least resistance.
The Mary Sue has contacted Target through email.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
