Posted on 12/18/2025 9:44:54 AM PST by DFG
CHICO, Calif. - A viral video filmed inside a Chico Target has stirred controversy this week. The video, featuring an Enloe Health medical assistant confronting a Target employee over her shirt, has gained nationwide attention.
The incident occurred on Monday night and quickly spread online.
Jeanie Beeman, the Target employee involved, spoke with Action News Now about her experience. She said she was unaware of the video until police visited her home to check on her Tuesday evening.
Beeman said she was shocked by the encounter and did not expect the reaction over what she was wearing, a red shirt with “Freedom Charlie Kirk.”
I asked Beeman about concerns some have brought up over the shirt potentially violating the company dress code.
She said the shirt has not been an issue with management. "The STL, the one over the store, has seen me wearing it, you know, I’ve passed by him a lot of times and he never, you know, they never said anything to me," she said.
Target's dress code policy states that unacceptable attire includes "graphics, logos or slogans that advocate for or against a political party or candidate for political office, but does not include content that relates to terms and conditions of employment, or that is otherwise legally protected.”
In a press conference that Enloe Health held on Wednesday afternoon, Mike Wiltermood, the CEO and President of Enloe Health, addressed the viral video.
According to Wiltermood, Enloe Health became aware of the video shortly after it was posted. Enloe began receiving emails and phone calls from people who were expressing their concerns over the nature of the video.
Wiltermood says that in a period of a few hours, Enloe Health received more than 6,000 calls, which overwhelmed their phone systems and impeded their ability to serve patients and their families.
Enloe Health says that as part of their policy and commitment to confidentiality, they will not provide comments or statements regarding individuals, employees, or personal matters.
Those who wish to share comments with their concerns regarding the issue can do so directly through a dedicated phone messaging system.
The number people can call to leave comments is 530-332-9818 or they can send their concerns via email to share@enloe.org. Enloe Health asks that for the safety and convenience of patients, they ask that commentators refrain from calling the main Enloe Health switchboard staff or clinic offices.
"We're compelled, obviously, to respect people's civil rights, and there is the law," Wiltermood said. "We certainly encourage people to exercise their civil rights as they see fit, especially in their off-duty hours. But we also hope that people will have restrained civility as they do so."
Beeman responded to calls on social media for the nurse, Michelea Ponce, to be fired.
“I don't think that that's right,” Beeman said. “Two wrongs don't make a right, you know, she wronged me, but I don't want to wrong her, or I don't want her - her wrong, because it’s not going to make it right. That was her opinion, she – but she's the one that put it on Facebook or put it on - on that. So you know, but, I really wouldn't want to see her, someone lose their job over it.”
Ponce has provided the following statement to Action News Now regarding the incident.
Ponce's full statement can be read in its entirety below:
"I want to take full responsibility for my actions and say clearly and sincerely that I was wrong. I behaved badly, and I regret it deeply.
I want to directly apologize to Jeannie. I am truly sorry for approaching you at your workplace and putting you in an uncomfortable and unfair position. You did not deserve that, and my behavior was wrong.
I also apologize to Jeannie's family for the stress and attention my actions caused. I apologize to Target as her employer, I apologize to Enloe, and I apologize to the Chico community. I understand that what I did reflected poorly on myself and disrupted a sense of safety and respect that should exist in a workplace and in our community.
I did not handle the situation the way I should have. I allowed my emotions to take over instead of choosing restraint and empathy. That was my failure, and I own it.
I regret my actions, and I am genuinely sorry for the harm they caused. I wish I can go back and undo what happened, but I can acknowledge it honestly, learn from it, and commit to doing better moving forward.
Again, I apologize to Jeanie and I hope that she and the community can forgive me."
The Chico Police Department released a statement today as well on their investigation into the viral video.
The full statement can be read in its entirety below:
"The Chico Police Department was made aware of the video circulating social media on Tuesday, December 16 and immediately made proactive contact with Target. Upon confirmation that this incident occurred at the Chico location, we initiated an investigation.
As a law enforcement organization, we have an obligation to uphold the United States Constitution. Specific to this incident, the First Amendment provides various protections related to the freedom of expression. An individual's ability to express themselves can be thought of as a spectrum- with free speech on one end and criminal conduct at the other end of the continuum.
After a careful review of the available facts and speaking with the Target employee involved, we have determined that the actions of the woman recording the video do not meet the threshold for criminal acts.
While we recognize that this topic is emotionally charged, our role is to evaluate whether or not any criminal conduct occurred during the incident.
As a result, there are no criminal charges appropriate to file in this case. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the longstanding principle that while individuals may have the right to say certain things, exercising discretion and consideration for others is always advisable.
In other words - just because you can say something, doesn't mean you should."
Beeman said she does not think it would be right to press charges against Ponce and does not plan to.
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Too bad Darth Vader isn’t there to “accept” her “apology”.
Ponce apparently has a history.
She needs to be fired and then encouraged to go work for NewScum.
The scumbag Ponce “woman” is the one who video recorded the encounter and uploaded it on the web for all to see.
How can that skank now say she is sorry? She’s only sorry about the backlash it has received. Probably figured it would give her approval from her leftwing comrades. Now she can suffer the consequences. /spit
“Ponce apparently has a history.”
I would not want her to attend to me. I was at a university practice that turned over almost 100% to non-white immigrants. I had to leave because the atmosphere became hostile to Caucasian patients.
I can imagine how hostile this nurse would be to religious or conservative patients if she is unable to control herself in public over something so trivial as a shirt with a sentiment she did not agree with.
There was no situation to handle until she created one with her childish actions.
I have to say, that was a complete and comprehensive apology statement, for which I commend her if it’s sincere; and I hope she lives up to it. She dished it out, and now she’s going to be taking it for years to come.
It would have been one thing if she had just stated her concerns, but it was another to drop the F-bomb every other word in a rant to a motherly-looking older woman low-level employee in the babywear department. That was crude.
God help anyone brought in while unconscious and wearing a cross necklace.
Do tell. I was almost ready to say the apology sounded sincere although it reads like it was written by a committee. But if she’s got a history of this then forget it. She’s only sorry she got in trouble.
I must say it was the best apology I have seen in these kind of incidents. She didn’t try to push it out on the other party as many are wont to do.
I can’t answer to its sincerity, but what she said in the apology seems sincere and if the lady she attacked is good with it, then there is that.
2Co_7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
There is a difference between repentance and worldly sorrow
Apology reads as though written by the offender’s corporate leaders.
Yep, she’ll probably do the same thing tomorrow to someone else.
Yes, she apparently has a history. But, the apology was not a “fake apology” in that she actually admitted being wrong. Time will tell if she learns anything from this.
If further incidents come out after this, then I agree with you - she isn’t worth reclamation.
Maybe but its better than 99% of the ones I’ve seen in the last 5 years on the internet.
I am not saying she is truly repentant, but she did issue an apology that doesn’t try to wiggle out from responsibility.
Fire Ponce pure and simple. She’s a radical activist and if you’ve seen the pic of her daughter and husband behind a vehicle that had Trump stickers, and the Ponce’s flying a Mexican flag in their yard I’d give to a fund to get them out of here and send them to Mexico never to be allowed to return. I’d never let that woman come near me or my family for nursing duties. Our granddaughter is a trauma nurse and you wouldn’t believe the abuse she takes from the families she takes care of....these despicable leftists need to be dealt with!!! I hope the employee continues to work and wear her shirt every day.....but thanks be to God that she doesn’t have to work another day if she chooses to....wonderful people have enabled her to make that choice.
I’ll use that apology form letter next time I get in an argument and say something stupid to my girlfriend.
“Hey Grok, write me an apology letter”
That angry sociopath will get a job at Chico State.
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