In a story that has sparked heated debate and captured the attention of millions, a Starbucks employee in Marseille, France, was fired for an act of kindness that many argue should have been celebrated rather than punished. On April 17, 2025, Sabri, a 30-year veteran of the company, was terminated after he distributed unsold sandwiches to homeless individuals—a decision that cost him his job but ignited a broader conversation about corporate responsibility, compassion, and the unintended consequences of viral fame. Meanwhile, country music star Blake Shelton found himself unwittingly entangled in the narrative, followed by paparazzi who mistakenly believed he was involved, adding a surreal twist to an already complex story.
A Compassionate Act Leads to Termination
Sabri, a counter server and refreshment attendant at a Starbucks located in Marseille Provence Airport’s Terminal 1, had been with the company for three decades. Known for his dedication and warm demeanor, he was a familiar face to both customers and colleagues. However, his career came to an abrupt end in mid-March 2025 when he was called into a disciplinary meeting and informed of his dismissal. The reason? Sabri had been giving unsold sandwiches—items that would otherwise be thrown away—to homeless people in the area.
According to reports from thinkstewartville.com, Sabri’s actions were not a one-off gesture but part of a routine he had developed over time. He ensured that all items were recorded by his supervisor as waste before distribution, believing he was acting responsibly by reducing food waste and helping those in need. “It was going to end up in the trash anyway,” Sabri explained, emphasizing that he took no personal gain from the act. Yet, SSP Group, the company that operates the Starbucks franchise, had a strict policy: no employee was permitted to take merchandise intended for disposal, even if it was to be discarded. The company’s human resources department stated in Sabri’s termination letter that “all losses must be recorded in the stock management system on the same day they occur,” and any deviation from this protocol was grounds for dismissal.
Sabri’s story quickly gained traction online, with many questioning the fairness of his termination. Food waste remains a significant global issue, with approximately one-third of all food produced worldwide being lost or wasted, according to data cited in the thinkstewartville.com report. In this context, Sabri’s actions seemed not only compassionate but also practical—an attempt to address a systemic problem at a local level. Public sentiment largely sided with him, with social media users arguing that Starbucks and SSP Group should have praised his initiative rather than punished it. “This is an act of charity, not misconduct,” one user wrote on X. “Corporate policies need to evolve to prioritize humanity over profit.”
Blake Shelton’s Unknowing Involvement
As Sabri’s story spread, an unexpected celebrity connection emerged, adding a bizarre layer to the narrative. Blake Shelton, the 48-year-old country music star known for hits like “God’s Country” and his role as a coach on The Voice, was in Marseille at the time, promoting his new album. Unbeknownst to him, paparazzi began following him after a rumor surfaced that he had been present at the Starbucks location during one of Sabri’s sandwich distributions. The rumor, which turned out to be false, suggested that Shelton had witnessed Sabri’s act of kindness and praised him, only to be outraged when he learned of the employee’s firing.
The speculation gained traction due to Shelton’s history of supporting charitable causes. In 2023, he and his wife, Gwen Stefani, donated $500,000 to a children’s hospital in Oklahoma, and Shelton has often spoken about the importance of giving back to the community. Paparazzi, hoping to capture a statement from the singer, trailed him through Marseille, snapping photos as he visited local cafes and recording studios. Shelton, unaware of the Starbucks controversy, was later spotted looking visibly confused as reporters shouted questions about Sabri and the homeless woman he had helped.
A source close to Shelton clarified to The Daily Mail that the singer had no knowledge of the incident. “Blake was in Marseille for work and had no idea he was being linked to this story,” the source said. “He supports acts of kindness, but he wasn’t involved in this situation at all.” Despite his lack of involvement, the rumor added fuel to the viral firestorm surrounding Sabri’s termination, drawing even more attention to the case.
The Broader Implications of Sabri’s Firing
Sabri’s story raises critical questions about corporate social responsibility, particularly in the context of food waste and support for vulnerable populations. Starbucks, a company that has positioned itself as socially conscious—closing stores for racial bias training in 2018 after a high-profile incident in Philadelphia—faced backlash for what many saw as a hypocritical stance. The company’s strict policy on merchandise disposal, while intended to prevent theft, failed to account for the ethical implications of throwing away edible food while people nearby went hungry.
The incident also highlighted the precarious position of employees who try to do the right thing within rigid corporate structures. Sabri insisted that he had followed protocol by ensuring the sandwiches were recorded as waste, yet he was still terminated. This echoes other cases where Starbucks employees have faced repercussions for actions perceived as well-intentioned. For example, in 2023, Starbucks fired Alexis Rizzo, a shift supervisor in Buffalo, New York, who had been instrumental in the Starbucks Workers United union campaign, as reported by CNBC. Rizzo’s termination was widely seen as retaliation for her union activities, despite the company citing attendance violations as the official reason.
Sabri’s case has since transformed into a legal battle, with the former employee seeking to challenge his dismissal. His story has also inspired grassroots movements advocating for better corporate policies on food waste. Activists have called for companies like Starbucks to partner with local charities to donate unsold food, a practice already adopted by some chains but not universally implemented. In Marseille, a petition to reinstate Sabri has garnered over 10,000 signatures as of April 25, 2025, reflecting widespread public support.
A Tale of Compassion and Consequences
The homeless woman who received the sandwiches from Sabri remains unnamed in reports, but her story underscores the human impact of his actions. For her, those sandwiches were a lifeline—a small act of kindness that alleviated her hunger, even if only for a day. For Sabri, however, the consequences were severe, costing him a job he had held for 30 years. “I just wanted to help,” he told thinkstewartville.com. “I never thought it would end like this.”
Blake Shelton’s unintended involvement, while a footnote in the larger narrative, illustrates the power of celebrity in amplifying social issues. Though he was not directly connected to the incident, the media attention surrounding his supposed involvement brought Sabri’s story to a global audience, prompting discussions about compassion, corporate accountability, and the role of privilege in addressing systemic problems like homelessness and food waste.
As of April 25, 2025, the fallout from Sabri’s firing continues to unfold. Starbucks and SSP Group have remained largely silent, issuing only a brief statement about the importance of adhering to company policies. Meanwhile, Sabri’s supporters are rallying behind him, hoping his case will lead to meaningful change in how corporations handle unsold food and treat employees who act with compassion. In a world where acts of kindness can sometimes come at a steep personal cost, Sabri’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the need for policies that prioritize humanity over profit—and the unexpected ways in which even the smallest gestures can ripple outward, touching lives far beyond their intended reach.
