"Like a cleaning product": tourist's complaint at Auschwitz causes scandal

A 70-year-old British tourist, Lynn Firman, criticized a cafe near the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum, complaining about the quality and cost of drinks. Her TikTok video garnered over four million views and sparked sharp criticism from users who pointed out the inappropriateness of her complaints in the context of the memorial. Firman insists on her right to complain.

A 70-year-old British tourist, Lynn Firman, posted a video on TikTok criticizing a cafe located near the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum in Poland. She complained about the lack of decaf coffee and plant-based milk, as well as the quality and cost of two drinks—a strawberry smoothie and lemonade—for which she paid nine pounds. According to her, the lemonade tasted and smelled like a cleaning product. The video garnered over four million views and sparked a strong reaction from users who reminded her of the significance of the site—a former Nazi concentration and death camp where about 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed. Commenters pointed out that during a visit to such a memorial, one should focus on its historical importance rather than the quality of drinks. Firman deleted the video and made her account private but did not retract her statements. She said she did not intend to offend anyone and insists that criticizing a cafe is permissible even if it is located near a memorial. The museum explained that the cafe is operated by an external contractor.