Jeanie Beeman, Chico, California Target worker berated over ‘Freedom- Charlie Kirk’ T-shirt by Tiktoker (aka Enloe Health nurse, Michaela Ponce) leads to GiveSendGo fundraiser raising $200K in donations for harassed employee as Tiktoker now goes into hiding following viral video.
A feud over a ‘freedom t-shirt’ an elderly Target worker was seen wearing in viral video has led to over $200K being donated on behalf of a Chico, California woman at the center of the controversy.
Disconcert started after Jeanie Beeman an elderly female worker at a Chico, California Target employee receiving the wrath of a Tiktoker who took exception to her shirt.
Michaela Ponce Enloe Health worker apologizes while internet rages she be fired
🚨 BREAKING: Police are now INVESTIGATING the incident where leftist woman Michelea Ponce harassed and berated an old lady for wearing a Charlie Kirk shirt while working in Target.
Ponce’s employer says police are investigating and that they’ve been FLOODED with calls.
GOOD!… pic.twitter.com/wNUgpHWj1M
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 17, 2025
TikToker demands to know if Chico Target worker is racist?
In the video, viewed millions of times on TikTok and X, Michelea Ponce accuses the employee of supporting a ‘racist,’ while donning the shirt, with the words ‘Freedom’ and ‘Charlie Kirk’ on the front along with a white American flag.
‘They let you wear that shirt here? Why are you wearing that shirt? You’re working.’ Moving closer to the visibly uncomfortable worker, the TikToker continues, ‘Why the f*** would you wear that? You’re at work. At Target…You support a racist,’ Ponce says, moving the camera so that Beeman’s outfit could be seen from all angles.
‘It’s a Charlie Kirk shirt. Are you f***ing stupid?’
Beeman in turn calmly responds, ‘I’m sorry but I’m not going to engage in an argument with you. Have a nice day,’ before walking away while stocking shirts.
Political polarization in America
The ‘freedom t-shirt was popularized by conservative commentator, Charlie Kirk. The Turning Point USA founder was wearing a white version of the tee on September 10, when he was fatally shot at Utah Valley University.
Reposts of the tense moment spread on conservative social media channels, sparking fury over Ponce’s treatment of the staff member and complaints to Chico police.
Internet sleuths soon went to work before identifying the person who made the clip as Michelea Ponce, identified as an employee with Enloe Health, a popular healthcare brand in the US.
Ponce, in turn deleted her social media after the video spread. Enloe Health stated Chico police were investigating the incident, which disrupted hospital operations with incoming calls. The Chico Police Department confirmed it is ‘actively investigating with local partners’.
🔥😂OMG LOL…MICHELEA PONCE IS ABOUT TO WAKE UP TOMORROW TO MAKING JEANNIE FROM TARGET A QUARTER MILLIONAIRE.
Jeanie’s GIVESENDGO is upto 186K & Michelea wakes up to 0%, more people despising her, LOSING HER JOB by the likes of it & being nearly UNHIRABLE.
She’ll never be… pic.twitter.com/2AISkXVob8— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) December 18, 2025
Freedom of speech dilemma
A GiveSendGo campaign launched in solidarity with the worker by conservative sympathizers on Monday, ‘to give her a vacation’ soon went viral with just under $200K raised on behalf of the Chico Target worker.
Chico police have since stated ‘while we recognize that this topic is emotionally charged… there are no criminal charges appropriate to file in this case.’
The episode further highlights the ongoing political divide in America, along with debate over free speech, workplace attire and social media’s role in amplifying confrontations.
