Support For Target Manager Tweaked On Twitter Over Toothbrush

SWANSEA, MA — A Swansea Target manager subjected to Twitter scorn for not selling an electric toothbrush for 1 cent is getting overwhelming online support — and perhaps quite the vacation. The manager — dubbed Tori Target by organizers of a GoFundMe page that has raised $31,000 on her behalf — refused to sell the mismarked toothbrush to journalist David Leavitt, prompting his public protest to his more than 21,000 followers.

Leavitt — whose Twitter profile proclaims him as an "award-winning multimedia journalist" — posted Friday afternoon that the Target store manager refused to sell him the toothbrush at the discounted display price in violation of Massachusetts law. He went on to post that he called Swansea police. He said that police verified his claim and would be willing to testify on his behalf in court.

But the rant of righteousness, which was re-Tweeted 1,300 times and received 7,300 likes as of Tuesday morning, was met with a backlash of sympathy for the retail employee under seize. Leavitt not only complained about not being sold the Oral-B for a penny, but he posted a picture of a seemingly beleaguered Tori, which may have caused many to come to the defense of a department store manager those felt was being personally attacked for simply trying to do her job.

This @target manager Tori is not honoring the price of their items per massachusetts law pic.twitter.com/7IYMjCcutZ
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) January 17, 2020

The GoFundMe page set up Saturday to help "send her on a vacation" had an initial goal of $5,000. The fund was at $31,204 as of Tuesday morning.

On Monday, the "beneficiary" of the fund started a Twitter account under the moniker"TheRealTargetTori" and thanked those who have supported her in the social media spat. She also alluded to donating at least a portion of the money raised rather than spend it on a vacation for herself.

"I would like to thank all of your for your generosity," she posted. "It is inspiring to see so many people united for a good cause. If I have learned anything for this experience, it is that people are good and these acts of kindness cannot stop with me.

"I am currently working with resources to find a cause worthy of generosity and something you would ALL be proud to donate to. Your support has changed my life."

#TargetTori #Tori #GoFundme pic.twitter.com/jbmdBq6mmT
— TargetTori (@RealTargetTori) January 19, 2020

In just one day, the account had accumulated more than 7,000 followers as of Tuesday morning.

Leavitt, for his part, chose not to delete the original Tweet despite the backlash, and has followed up with another post advocated donating toothbrushes and oral hygiene products to the homeless and those in need.