Cafe Owner Asks Pro-Life Group To Leave — TikTok Sparks Sales Surge and Harassment

In August, Kristan Hawkins (@kristanmercerhawkins), who identifies herself as president of Students for Life of America and CEO of Pro-Life Generation, posted a TikTok showing the owner of Wydaho Roasters asking her and a group of pro-life activists to take their meeting elsewhere.

In the clip the owner explains, "I said everybody is welcome, but I said I don't want this group meeting here," and suggests they use a public library instead. He tells the group that he and his wife oppose their views: "Did I make it very clear that I did not want you here? Yeah. I did a lot of work to get people on the ballot so women would have the right to choose in the state of Idaho. And this is something I do not support, nor does my wife. And it's our business, so we have that choice."

Hawkins pushes back in the exchange, and the owner at one point compares people he associates with the Ku Klux Klan to the pro-life activists, saying they represent the "same concept" to him. Hawkins responds, "That is so beyond hard. Pro-lifers are those who advocate for the dignity of every human life, even children in the womb." The interaction ends with the owner reiterating his request that the group not meet at the cafe again.

Reaction And Immediate Impact

The video quickly attracted attention online. Hawkins's post accumulated roughly 24,000 comments, and early responses on the TikTok were largely supportive of the cafe owner. Local reporting by the Idaho Statesman identified the owner as Jim Sheehan and described a dramatic uptick in business following the clip.

Sheehan told the Idaho Statesman that sales during the weekend of the confrontation more than doubled the cafe's previous record. "I can't get anything done because everyone wants to keep giving us hugs. People are reaching out from across the country and ordering stuff," he said. He added that the volume of orders and messages left staff struggling to keep up.

Harassment and Safety Concerns

The surge in public support was accompanied by harassment. According to reports, Sheehan and his wife were doxxed, the cafe received hostile phone calls and some callers made death threats, prompting the staff to temporarily turn off their phones. The episode highlights how quickly a local dispute can escalate into wider online attention — and personal risk — once it goes viral.

Broader Online Debate

The incident also generated debate on platforms such as Reddit. Many commenters praised Sheehan for refusing to host a meeting whose goals he opposes, framing the decision as support for women's reproductive choice. Sample reactions included:

"He was respectful, kept his cool, and politely asked them to leave. Hats off to you, sir."

Others suggested the activists knowingly sought out a confrontation to create viral content, with comments such as:

"Guarantee they intentionally went there knowing it was pro-choice just to film rage bait content."

What This Illustrates

The Wydaho Roasters episode underscores how businesses can become flashpoints in cultural and political debates. It also illustrates the mixed consequences of taking a public stance: immediate local and national support can translate to booming sales, while intense online scrutiny can expose owners and staff to threats and privacy violations. Whether seen as a principled stand or a polarizing moment, the incident shows the potential rewards and risks for small businesses that publicly refuse space to groups whose views they oppose.