Strava fires senior marketer after video shows assault at SF restaurant, raising legal and civic questions
What happened and why it matters now
I can confirm that Strava has terminated senior marketing manager Shireen Afkari after a December 13 incident at Hazie’s in San Francisco. A widely shared video appears to show Afkari yelling at staff, pulling a bartender’s hair, and striking employees during a late night altercation. San Francisco police arrested her on suspicion of public intoxication and booked her into county jail. She has not been charged in court at this time.
On December 15, Strava issued a public statement condemning the conduct. The company said the behavior violates its standards and announced her immediate firing. The episode now sits at the center of a larger question. How far can a private employer go in disciplining off-duty behavior, and what rights do citizens and workers have when viral videos drive public reaction?
Allegations in a video are not a conviction. Afkari is entitled to the presumption of innocence in any criminal case.
The legal ground: off-duty conduct, arrests, and private workplaces
California is an at-will employment state. That means a company can end employment at any time, for any reason that is not illegal. Off-duty conduct can be a lawful reason if it conflicts with employer codes of conduct, harms business interests, or violates safety policies. The limits are clear. An employer cannot fire someone for a protected trait, for political activity, for lawful medical leave, or for raising workplace concerns.
What about the arrest itself? An arrest is not the same as a charge or a conviction. Employers may consider the underlying conduct when it is documented and job relevant. They must still follow anti-discrimination laws. If charges are filed, fair chance hiring rules may apply in later employment decisions, and background checks must follow state and federal law.
Inside the restaurant, staff had the right to refuse service and to ask an unruly patron to leave. If violence occurs, employees should call police. Use of force by private staff must be reasonable and limited to safety. California law allows citizen’s arrest in narrow cases, but it is risky without training. Police typically handle public intoxication and assault claims.
On the criminal side, the behavior shown could support simple battery or assault charges. Public intoxication is a separate offense focused on safety. Prosecutors will review evidence, including the video and witness statements, before deciding whether to file.
Policy and platform context: safety, privacy, and the Strava community
This flashpoint arrives as Strava’s community grows and the company highlights rising activity across sports. The platform’s Year in Sport report showcased more walking, strong Gen Z engagement, and new AI route tools. That growth brings new duties under California privacy law. Users have rights under the CCPA and CPRA to know what data is collected, to delete it, and to limit its use. Strava must give clear controls, protect location data, and honor opt-outs.
Strava’s route features and GPS sharing are powerful, and they carry real safety implications. For runners and cyclists, privacy zones, private activities, and club settings matter. Public heat maps and creative GPS drawings, known as Strava Art, can showcase community spirit. They can also reveal patterns that users did not intend to share. This is a policy challenge for the company and a civic issue for cities that rely on public space and safe streets.
Review your privacy settings. Use privacy zones around home and work, limit who can see your activities, and consider delay posting until after your route.
Strava’s swift firing signals a zero tolerance stance on violence against workers, even off the clock. That approach may protect brand trust and community safety norms. It also sets a precedent for how tech platforms respond to employee behavior that undermines public-facing values.
Citizen rights and responsibilities
Here is what you should know:
- You can film in a business open to the public when there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
- California restricts recording confidential conversations. Avoid secret audio of private talks.
- Workers have a right to a safe workplace. Businesses can refuse service to protect staff and guests.
- If police detain you, you have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer.
If you are recorded in a public incident, there is little privacy protection. Defamation laws still protect against false statements presented as fact.
The bottom line
Strava moved fast to cut ties with a senior employee after a violent incident in San Francisco. The company’s decision sits on solid legal ground and serves a clear policy goal, a safe workplace and community. As the platform grows and adds AI and routing tools, the civic stakes rise too. Safety, privacy, and accountability now shape not only user choices on the app, but also how the company acts when its own people cross the line.
