A Massachusetts ice cream shop owner has gone viral for publicly calling out customers who he claims are treating his young employees poorly. Dave, the owner of Coldstuff Ice Cream in Blackstone, Massachusetts, posted a strong message on Facebook this week defending his staff.

"I SWEAR TO GOD. STOP YELLING AT MY F—ING EMPLOYEES," Dave wrote in the post, which has since been viewed over 200,000 times and garnered more than 20,000 comments. He emphasized that his employees are often teenagers working their first jobs and are bound to make mistakes. "This can all be fixed with a smile and a polite attitude. It’s ice cream, for crying out loud. Grow up and act your age."

Dave also added a blunt closing statement for those with grievances: "And NOBODY gives a s–t if you don’t come back. We’d prefer it that way."

The post sparked a wide range of reactions, with some commenters criticizing Dave for his aggressive tone and suggesting there are more professional ways to address customer service issues. One commenter wrote, "I agree that your staff should be treated with respect but holy hell is this a bad look for a business owner..There is an absolutely better way to get your point across while still looking like a professional, and you missed the mark by a mile."

However, many others praised Dave for his support of his employees. Comments included messages like, "It’s rare to see an employer actually care about their employees, and you deserve all the blessings coming your way." Several individuals expressed a desire to patronize Coldstuff Ice Cream based on Dave's post, with one person stating, "Looks like a trip to Massachusetts for some ice cream is in order."

In response to some of the backlash, Dave clarified that his original post was not intended to target all older customers. He stated, "This post wasn’t intended to bash boomers…the vast majority of the elderly folks we encounter are fabulous," adding that he was only referring to a select few who exhibit overly aggressive behavior.

He further elaborated, "You know who you are, and you know who we are. But seriously, let’s check ourselves around working kids. It’s one group who feels border line aggressive when something is wrong. It’s a mistake, not an insult. There’s no need. It’s ice cream."

The owner also indicated that the shop plans to remain open through the winter months, having installed protective walls to shield customers from the cold.