A simple coffee run in Lavallette, New Jersey turned into a viral internet story after a toddler accidentally toppled a marble table at Hazelnut Cafe, leading to a heated confrontation over payment.
Kathy Denman, visiting the cafe with her three-year-old daughter and 76-year-old mother, shared her ordeal in a TikTok video that has since racked up millions of views.
The incident ignited fierce online debate about responsibility, safety, and how businesses handle accidents involving children.
How the Table Toppled
According to security footage, the mishap happened when the toddler, sitting on her grandmother’s lap, tried to slide the table away and accidentally pushed it over.
The table, weighing 600 pounds, smashed into pieces on the floor.
Kathy explained in her TikTok that she had just stepped up to pay for their coffees when she heard a loud crash.
“It was a stone table,” she said. “I immediately apologized and asked, ‘What could we do to make this right?’”
Tense Exchange Over Payment
Things quickly escalated when Kathy said the cafe owner insisted she couldn’t leave without giving a credit card and a photo of her license.
“I just wanted to make sure my daughter was okay,” Kathy shared.
“She was completely terrified, and I wanted to take her to a medical professional.”
Despite offering her contact information, she claimed the owner repeatedly insisted she follow the cafe’s “you break it, you pay for it” policy.
Kathy admitted she was shocked that the owner didn’t ask about her child’s well-being at any point and said the encounter left her feeling humiliated and embarrassed.
Cafe Responds and Takes Precautions
In response, Hazelnut Cafe said it never “held anyone against their will” and that Kathy was not charged for the broken table.
They added that their priority was ensuring the family was unharmed.
The cafe also explained that it had contacted Kathy afterward to offer support and shared direct contact information for any follow-up.
As an added safety measure, all tables at the cafe have been removed to prevent a similar incident.
Toddler Checked by Doctors
Following the mishap, Kathy immediately took her daughter to Urgent Care, where the toddler was reportedly in a state of shock from the loud crash.
Kathy highlighted that the table, an Anthropologie Kanta Rectangular Marble Console worth $1,598, only had two legs, which made it more prone to tipping over than a standard four-legged table.
Viral Reaction and Resolution
Kathy’s video quickly went viral, drawing over 13.3 million views and sparking massive online discussion.
Many social media users sided with her, criticizing the cafe’s handling of the situation.
In a follow-up post, Kathy shared that the cafe reached out to apologize for how her family was treated.
She concluded, “We have accepted their apology and are satisfied.”
