If there’s one thing we know about children, it’s that they are clumsy. Whether you work with kids, have younger siblings, or just remember your own self being a child, you are well aware that little ones have a knack for breaking things. Toys, dishes, glasses — you name it. But, we can also all agree that accidents happen, and the child isn’t to blame. Some people, like the owner of Hazel Boutique, don’t agree with that sentiment — especially when an almost $2,000 table is involved.
What is the Hazel Boutique table drama?
It all started when TikToker Katthy Denman took her mother and three-year-old daughter out for coffee and ice cream at Hazel Boutique in Lavallette, New Jersey. She left her mother and daughter at one of the café’s tables as she went over to the counter to pick up her coffee. While she paid, she heard a loud thud, and turned around to find that her daughter had pushed the table they were sitting at over. The stone table was smashed into pieces, and her daughter was visibly frightened by the accident.
While the barista at the café was understanding about the situation (like I said, kids tend to do this), Denman was shocked to hear the owner’s response. Over the phone, the owner insisted that because her daughter had broken the table, she had to provide the café with her license and credit card — and couldn’t leave until she did so. The most shocking part? The owner broke the news that the table cost a whopping $1,600. Because her daughter was so shaken up by the incident, Denman ignored the owner’s insistence of her not leaving and decided to comfort her instead. She provided her contact information and left, despite the owner constantly repeating “You break it, you pay for it.”
By the end of the whole interaction, Denman felt humiliated and even had to take her daughter to urgent care to be assessed: luckily, doctors said she was just experiencing a bit of shock. Denman came to TikTok to voice her dissatisfaction with how the owner handled this situation, and the video went viral.
What was the response?
People immediately took Denman’s side in the situation — and for good reason. Firstly, the table in question is not meant for dining. People online were able to match the table to one that is sold on Anthropologie, which is advertised as a console table. Console tables are meant more for decor, with the stability to put a few small knick knacks on. It only has two legs, making it extremely easy to tip. Not to mention, the table is about 600 pounds. If a three year old can knock over a table that heavy, you might want to reconsider and get proper dining tables. Imagine how easily a grown adult would be able to knock it over.
A now deleted TikTok posted to the Hazel Boutique account shows just how unsturdy the so-called table is. You can see it visibly shaking as a group of girls sip a drink off of it.
People online are also furious about how the owner handled the situation, especially considering it could have been prevented if the café took proper precautions. One user commented “She has insurance and should be lucky that you are not suing her. She is 100% liable.” Other users urged Denman to sue the business, and some lawyers even offered their services in the comments. Overall, the entire internet is team Denman and her daughter. Hazel Boutique has turned off their comments on TikTok and have not said anything publicly about the situation.