Twisted Build-A-Bear Workshop employee refuses teen’s wish to name teddy after Charlie Kirk: report
A controversial incident at a Build-A-Bear Workshop in Washington state has sparked outrage after a teenage customer was allegedly refused the opportunity to name her new teddy bear after slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The incident took place at the Southcenter Mall outside Seattle, where 16-year-old Evi McCormick and her friends were enjoying a lighthearted trip to the popular store.
According to McCormick, the store manager rejected her request to put Kirk’s name on the teddy bear’s birth certificate, citing disagreement and lack of support for the choice. The manager went as far as crumpling up the birth certificate and throwing it away in front of the shocked teen. McCormick, who viewed Kirk as a role model, was deeply upset by the encounter and handed her debit card to a friend to complete the purchase of the bear before walking away from the register.
The incident left McCormick and her friends feeling uncomfortable, with her friend Kailie Lang expressing their discomfort to a local news outlet. Build-A-Bear Workshop’s protection policy prohibits customers from giving indecent or distasteful names to their furry friends, but McCormick’s intention was simply to honor Kirk, who was tragically assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Describing Kirk as mesmerizing and elegant in his speech, McCormick emphasized that he was a role model to her. She was disappointed that the situation was turned political by the employee. Following the incident, McCormick’s mother, Amber McCormick, contacted the toy company’s corporate office to seek answers.
Initially offered a $20 gift card as compensation for the poor customer experience, the elder McCormick received a follow-up call informing her that the Seattle-area workforce would undergo retraining to keep politics out of interactions with customers. The company’s goal is to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
The McCormicks were pleased with the company’s response and commitment to addressing the issue. Efforts to reach them for further comment were unsuccessful, and inquiries to Build-A-Bear Workshop’s corporate office went unanswered. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting customers’ choices and upholding a neutral stance in customer interactions.
