The California lifestyle brand Aviator Nation has drawn criticism after a video surfaced showing a homeless man sleeping on a chair inside one of its stores. The incident, captured by Instagram user @basedinmalibu, occurred in what appears to be the brand's Austin, Texas location. Aviator Nation is recognized for its vintage-inspired apparel, with items like sweatpants selling for $165.
The video depicts the man resting on a chair as customers shopped nearby. The Instagram user, Lizzy Benichou, shared the video and expressed frustration, stating that sales associates told her they could not intervene because the individual "gets aggressive." Benichou questioned the brand's safety protocols for employees and customers, asking if patrons would feel comfortable spending significant amounts on merchandise under such circumstances.
The brand, which has stores in California, Texas, New York, and other states, has not yet responded to requests for comment from The Post. The incident sparked debate on social media, with some users expressing outrage and questioning why law enforcement or security had not been involved. Others suggested a more compassionate approach, advocating for assistance rather than removal.
One social media comment read, "Why don’t they call police or security to have him removed? If they haven’t it’s because they don’t want to and don’t feel the need to. Not good at all." Conversely, another user wrote, "How about be kind. Maybe skip the sweat pants and offer to take him to get a shower and haircut."