A Somali woman named Farhia Ahmed is at the center of a viral news story. It started at a Cinnabon bakery in Wisconsin. A fundraiser to support her has seen a big surge in donations.
The incident involved a Cinnabon employee named Crystal Terese. A video showed Terese using racist language towards Ahmed and her husband. The argument reportedly began over a food order.
In the video, the employee can be heard using the N-word. The video spread quickly online. Cinnabon fired the employee soon after.
Who is Farhia Ahmed?
Farhia Ahmed is the customer who filmed the incident. She was wearing a hijab at the time. The racist remarks were directed at her and her husband.
Her cousin, Sabrina Osman, started a GoFundMe campaign for her. Osman said the experience was very traumatic for Ahmed. She said Ahmed is now afraid to go outside.
The fundraiser description asks for legal help. It calls for lawyers in Wisconsin to contact them. The goal is to take legal action and “put a stop to this.”
The Fundraiser’s Journey
At first, the GoFundMe for Farhia Ahmed grew very slowly. Just days ago, it had only raised about $20. At the same time, a different fundraiser for the fired employee, Crystal Terese, had raised over $40,000.
Sabrina Osman posted a TikTok video about this difference. She pointed out the huge gap in support. After her video and the news going viral, things changed.
Donations for Farhia Ahmed began to pour in. More than 100 people donated. The total has now passed $3,000. The goal is set at $45,000.
The Other Side: Fundraiser for Fired Employee
A separate fundraiser exists for Crystal Terese, the fired worker. It is on a site called GiveSendGo. It was started by a popular X user named Tom Hennessy.
That campaign tells a different story. It describes Terese as a “hardworking White mom.” It claims the Somali customers intimidated her during her shift.
It argues that Cinnabon betrayed her by firing her. The description says no White person should lose their job in such a situation.
This fundraiser has been very successful. It has received over 3,300 donations. It has raised more than $90,000 and is nearing its $100,000 goal.
Community Reaction and Company Response
The incident has divided online communities. Many people are rallying to support Farhia Ahmed. They see it as a clear case of racist abuse.
Others support Crystal Terese. They believe she was unfairly fired after being provoked.
Cinnabon’s official statement was clear. The company said it does not condone the employee’s behavior. It stated the worker was immediately fired by the local franchise owner. The company said her actions do not reflect their values.
The situation shows how a single incident can spark wider debates. It touches on issues of racism, support for victims, and differing perspectives on conflict.