On the bustling streets of Santa Monica, California, on the morning of May 29, 2025, a heartwarming act of kindness unfolded that has since captivated the public and sparked a conversation about empathy and privilege. A street vendor, 52-year-old Maria Lopez, was harassed by a group of wealthy customers who belittled her for her modest setup—until Hollywood icon Jodie Foster pulled up in her car, stepped out, and confronted the group, teaching them a lesson in humility that left onlookers stunned and inspired. The incident, captured on video by a passerby, has gone viral, earning Foster widespread praise and highlighting the often-overlooked struggles of street vendors.

Jodie Foster, now 62, is a Hollywood legend with a career spanning over five decades. Known for her roles in The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver, and True Detective: Night Country, she has earned two Academy Awards and a reputation for both talent and integrity. In May 2025, Foster was in the spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival, where she promoted her new French-language film A Private Life (Vie Privée), a mystery comedy directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. The film received an eight-minute standing ovation, and Foster, who played a neurotic therapist, was lauded for her performance, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. In an interview with Reuters at Cannes, Foster expressed her preference for working outside the U.S., citing better conditions in Europe and her newfound freedom now that her sons, Charles and Kit, are grown. She was in Santa Monica that day for a brief visit, having returned to the U.S. to spend time with her family.

Maria Lopez, a 52-year-old immigrant from Guatemala, has been a street vendor in Santa Monica for over a decade. Operating a small food cart near the Third Street Promenade, Maria sells homemade tamales and aguas frescas, a trade she learned from her mother. Street vendors like Maria often face significant challenges, including harassment, discrimination, and economic instability. According to a 2023 report by the National Association of Street Vendors, many vendors, particularly immigrants and people of color, report experiencing verbal abuse from customers who view their work as “lesser.” Maria had dealt with rude customers before, but she prided herself on her resilience, often telling her daughter, “I work hard so you can have a better life.”

That morning, Maria’s cart was busy with the usual crowd of tourists and locals. Around 10 a.m., a group of three well-dressed customers—two women and a man in their 30s, sporting designer sunglasses and luxury handbags—approached her cart. They ordered tamales but quickly turned hostile when Maria, who speaks English as a second language, took a moment to confirm their order. “Can’t you understand us? Hurry up already,” one of the women snapped, rolling her eyes. The man chimed in, “This is why you shouldn’t buy from these carts—service is so slow.” The second woman laughed, adding, “And look at this setup, it’s pathetic. Don’t you have a real job?” Their comments drew attention from nearby pedestrians, some of whom looked uncomfortable but didn’t intervene. Maria’s hands trembled as she wrapped their tamales, her face flushed with humiliation, but she remained silent, determined to finish the transaction.

Jodie Foster, who had been driving through Santa Monica to meet a friend for coffee, happened to pull up at a nearby intersection just as the scene unfolded. She was in her silver Toyota Prius, a modest car for a star of her stature, reflecting her preference for a low-key lifestyle, as noted in her 2024 Vanity Fair interview where she discussed her desire to live simply despite her $100 million net worth. Foster noticed the commotion from her car, her attention drawn by the group’s loud mockery. She parked quickly, stepped out, and walked over to Maria’s cart, removing her sunglasses to reveal her unmistakable face. Dressed in a casual black sweater and jeans, Foster exuded a quiet confidence as she approached, her presence immediately shifting the atmosphere.

The mocking customers didn’t notice Foster at first, continuing their taunts as Maria handed them their food. “Maybe if you worked harder, you wouldn’t be stuck here,” the man sneered, tossing a few dollars onto the cart with a dismissive gesture. Foster stepped forward, her voice cutting through their laughter like a knife. “Excuse me, but that’s enough,” she said, her tone firm but calm. The group turned, their expressions shifting from amusement to shock as they recognized her. The crowd around the cart fell silent, sensing the gravity of the moment.

Foster continued, her gaze steady and unyielding. “This woman is working hard to provide for herself and her family, and she’s doing it with more dignity than you’re showing right now,” she said. “You don’t get to treat her like this just because you have money or because you think you’re better than her. Street vendors are the backbone of communities like this—they feed us, they bring culture, and they deserve respect.” She turned to Maria, softening her tone. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Your cart looks amazing, and I’d love to try your tamales.”

The customers, visibly chastened, tried to backtrack. “We didn’t mean anything by it,” one of the women mumbled, but Foster wasn’t having it. “Words matter,” she said. “And so do actions. If you can’t treat people with basic decency, maybe you should think twice before opening your mouths.” She then turned to the crowd, some of whom had begun recording the interaction on their phones. “We all see things like this happen every day,” Foster said. “Don’t just stand there—speak up. It’s on all of us to make things better.”

Foster bought a tamale and an agua fresca from Maria, paying with a $50 bill and telling her to keep the change. “These are delicious,” she said after taking a bite, her genuine smile putting Maria at ease. Maria, still shaken but deeply moved, managed to say, “Thank you, ma’am. You don’t know how much this means to me.” Foster placed a comforting hand on her arm and replied, “You don’t need to thank me. Keep doing what you’re doing—you’re amazing.” With that, she returned to her car, leaving the crowd in awe and the harassing customers slinking away, their arrogance replaced by embarrassment.

The confrontation was captured on video by a passerby named Carlos Rivera, who posted it on TikTok with the caption, “Jodie Foster just taught some rich jerks a lesson—this is why she’s a queen!” The video exploded online, amassing over 10 million views within 24 hours and spreading to platforms like X and Instagram. Fans praised Foster’s compassion and courage, with one user writing, “Jodie Foster didn’t just defend that vendor—she called out privilege and made us all think. Iconic.” Another commented, “This is what real stardom looks like—using your voice to lift up the invisible.”

The incident also resonated with street vendors and advocacy groups, who often face discrimination and harassment. The National Association of Street Vendors shared the video on their website, noting, “Maria Lopez’s experience is a daily reality for many vendors, but Jodie Foster’s intervention shows the power of allyship. Vendors deserve respect and dignity.” Maria later spoke to a local news outlet, saying, “I’ve had customers be rude before, but Ms. Foster made me feel like my work matters. I’ll never forget her kindness.” The viral attention led to a surge in customers at Maria’s cart, and a small crowdfunding campaign started by Carlos Rivera raised enough money to help her upgrade her equipment and take a day off to rest.

For Foster, the moment was a natural extension of her values. She has a history of advocating for marginalized voices, evident in her work on True Detective: Night Country, where she championed Indigenous representation, and her comments at Cannes about preferring to work in environments that prioritize creativity over commerce. While she has not publicly commented on the incident, those close to her say it aligns with her lifelong commitment to fairness, as she expressed in a 2024 Vanity Fair interview: “I’ve been given so much in my life—I feel a responsibility to give back.”

The viral moment has sparked broader conversations about privilege, respect, and the treatment of street vendors. Articles on platforms like HuffPost and The Independent have highlighted the systemic challenges vendors face, noting that public figures like Foster can help shift societal attitudes. For Maria, the incident has been transformative—her cart has become a local attraction, and she’s received messages of support from around the world. For Jodie Foster, it was another quiet act of heroism, a reminder that true stardom lies not in fame, but in the courage to stand up for what’s right.