On the morning of May 28, 2025, a quiet grocery store in Santa Monica, California, became the stage for an unexpected and powerful moment of compassion that has since captured the hearts of millions. A young grocery bag boy, 19-year-old Marcus Evans, was cruelly mocked by a group of customers for his stutter—until Hollywood legend Jodie Foster, who happened to be shopping nearby, stepped forward to defend him, silencing the crowd with her commanding presence and unwavering empathy. The incident, which was captured on video by a bystander and quickly went viral, has sparked widespread praise for Foster and renewed conversations about kindness, disability, and the impact of standing up for those who are unfairly treated.

Jodie Foster, now 62, has long been a towering figure in Hollywood, with a career spanning over five decades. Known for iconic roles in films like The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver, and Panic Room, she has earned two Academy Awards, three BAFTAs, and a Golden Globe, cementing her status as one of the industry’s most respected talents. In recent years, Foster has taken on more producing and directing roles, notably with the fourth season of HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, which aired in 2024 and garnered critical acclaim for its storytelling and diverse representation, as noted in reviews by Variety. She also made headlines in March 2025 for her appearance at the Oscars, where she presented an award alongside her Silence of the Lambs co-star Anthony Hopkins, a moment that delighted fans, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

On that Tuesday morning, Foster was in Santa Monica for a low-key visit, having recently wrapped up a promotional tour for True Detective. Dressed in a simple black sweater, jeans, and sunglasses, she blended into the crowd at Whole Foods, picking up groceries for a family gathering with her wife, Alexandra Hedison, and their two sons, Charles and Kit. Foster has always valued her privacy, often speaking in interviews about her desire to lead a “normal” life despite her fame, as she shared in a 2024 Vanity Fair profile. But her quiet shopping trip took a dramatic turn when she overheard a disturbing scene unfolding at the checkout lane.

Marcus Evans, a 19-year-old employee at Whole Foods, was working his usual shift as a bag boy. Marcus, who has stuttered since childhood, was known among regular customers for his kindness and work ethic, often going out of his way to help elderly shoppers with their bags. Stuttering, a speech disorder affecting about 1% of the population, can cause interruptions in the flow of speech, such as repetitions or prolongations of sounds, and is often misunderstood, leading to stigma and discrimination, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Marcus had faced teasing before, but he had learned to manage it with the support of his family and speech therapy. That morning, however, the ridicule escalated in a way he couldn’t ignore.

As Marcus bagged groceries for a group of three customers—two women and a man in their late 20s—he struggled to answer a question about the store’s plastic bag policy. His stutter became more pronounced under pressure, and he repeated the word “p-p-plastic” several times before completing his sentence. The customers began to laugh, with one of the women mimicking his stutter in a mocking tone, saying, “P-p-plastic, huh? Can you even talk?” The man joined in, adding, “Maybe you should find a job where you don’t have to speak, buddy.” The third woman, though visibly uncomfortable, said nothing, and other shoppers in line began to shift awkwardly, some looking away while others whispered to each other. Marcus’s face turned red, and he lowered his head, trying to focus on his task, but the taunts continued, growing louder.

Foster, who was two lanes over, heard the commotion and turned to see what was happening. She immediately recognized the cruelty of the situation, her expression hardening as she set down her basket of groceries. Foster has a history of advocating for those who are marginalized, both on and off screen. In her work with True Detective: Night Country, she championed the inclusion of Indigenous voices, ensuring the series authentically represented Alaska Native communities, as noted in a 2024 Indiewire interview. She has also spoken openly about her own struggles with shyness as a child actor, giving her a deep empathy for those who feel misunderstood, as she shared in a 2023 The Guardian profile.

Without hesitation, Foster walked over to Marcus’s lane, removing her sunglasses to reveal her unmistakable face. The crowd fell silent as they recognized her, the mocking customers freezing mid-laugh. “Excuse me,” Foster said, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her authority, “but I think you owe this young man an apology.” The woman who had mimicked Marcus stammered, “I-I didn’t mean anything by it,” but Foster cut her off, her tone firm. “You meant to humiliate him, and that’s not okay. He’s doing his job, and he’s doing it well. Stuttering doesn’t make him less capable or less human. What makes you think you have the right to treat him like this?”

The man tried to interject, saying, “It was just a joke,” but Foster turned to him, her gaze piercing. “It’s not a joke when someone’s being hurt. You’re not children—you’re adults, and you should know better. This isn’t how we treat people.” She then looked at the third woman, who had remained silent, and added, “And standing by while this happens doesn’t make you innocent either. If you see something wrong, you speak up.” The crowd, now fully attentive, began to murmur in agreement, some nodding in support of Foster’s words. The mocking customers, visibly chastened, mumbled apologies to Marcus before quickly leaving the store, their heads down.

Foster turned to Marcus, her expression softening. “Are you okay?” she asked gently. Marcus, still shaken but grateful, nodded and managed to say, “Th-th-thank you, ma’am.” Foster smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t need to thank me. You’re doing a great job, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Keep your head up.” She then picked up her basket and returned to her lane, leaving the crowd in awe of her quiet heroism.

The incident was captured on video by a shopper named Emily Carter, who posted it on TikTok with the caption, “Jodie Foster just shut down some bullies at Whole Foods—this is why she’s a legend.” The video quickly went viral, amassing over 5 million views within hours and spreading to other platforms like X and Instagram. Fans praised Foster’s compassion and directness, with one user writing, “Jodie Foster is a queen—she didn’t just defend that kid, she taught everyone in that store a lesson.” Another commented, “This is what real stardom looks like—using your platform to lift others up.”

The story also resonated with the stuttering community, who often face discrimination and misunderstanding. The Stuttering Foundation, a nonprofit organization, shared the video on their website, noting, “Marcus’s story is all too common, but Jodie Foster’s intervention shows the power of allyship. People who stutter deserve respect, not ridicule.” Marcus himself later spoke to a local news outlet, saying, “I’ve always been self-conscious about my stutter, but Ms. Foster made me feel seen. I’ll never forget that.”

For Foster, the moment was a natural extension of her values. While she has not publicly commented on the incident, those close to her say it aligns with her lifelong commitment to standing up for the underdog. In her 2024 Vanity Fair interview, she spoke about her desire to use her platform for good, saying, “I’ve been given so much in my life—I feel a responsibility to give back, whether that’s through my work or just how I treat people.” Her actions at Whole Foods reflect that ethos, showing that even in a casual setting, she remains a fierce advocate for justice.

The viral moment has also sparked broader conversations about disability and kindness. Articles on platforms like HuffPost and The Independent have highlighted the challenges faced by people who stutter, noting that public figures like Foster can help shift perceptions. For Marcus, the incident has been life-changing—he received an outpouring of support online, and Whole Foods issued a statement praising his dedication while condemning the customers’ behavior. A small crowdfunding campaign started by Emily Carter raised enough money to help Marcus pay for additional speech therapy sessions, a gesture that brought him to tears.

In a world often marked by division, Jodie Foster’s intervention at Whole Foods on May 28, 2025, was a reminder of the impact one person can have. By stepping forward to defend Marcus Evans, she not only silenced his bullies but also amplified a message of empathy and respect that resonates far beyond the grocery store aisle. For Marcus, and for the millions who have watched the video, Foster’s actions are a beacon of hope—a testament to the power of standing up for what’s right, no matter the setting.