A New Jersey mother has said she was not allowed to leave a cafe until she handed over her credit card and driving licence details after her three-year-old daughter accidentally knocked over a marble table worth $1,600 (approximately £1,300).
Kathy Denman was at the Hazelnut Cafe in Ocean County with her daughter Allie when the incident occurred. In a viral TikTok video, Denman alleged that the cafe’s owner repeatedly told her, “Our policy is, you break it, you pay for it,” and that she was kept at the restaurant for 20 minutes.
The owners of the cafe, sisters Kimberly and Jenna Campfield, told NJ Advance Media that Denman was not charged for the damage and was only asked for her contact information for insurance purposes. They said they would never hold anyone against their will and expressed gratitude that no one was hurt.
Surveillance footage obtained by NJ Advance Media appears to show Allie hitting the table with her foot before it toppled and shattered. The table, sold by Anthropologie, weighs approximately 109.25 pounds (49.5 kg).
Denman later said in a written statement that the cafe owners had apologised for how her family was treated, and that she had accepted the apology, wanting to “move forward peacefully”. Her initial TikTok video has been viewed over 10 million times.
The Campfields confirmed they have removed similar tables from their restaurant and stores to prevent any future incidents.
