SEATTLE — Seattle news station KIRO-TV captured video of a woman stealing a treat from a Cheesecake Factory location in the midst of riots following protests over the death of George Floyd.
After several hours of peaceful gatherings and marches earlier Saturday, Seattle police said the crowd turned violent, throwing bottles, setting fires, breaking windows and looting businesses in the downtown area.
Rioters, many wearing masks, looted and vandalized stores, including Nordstrom and Old Navy.
Windows of the Cheesecake Factory were also smashed, and people were seen throwing bottles of alcohol outside.
A KIRO-TV news crew that was recording footage of the scene captured footage of a woman wearing a mask walking away from the restaurant carrying an entire cheesecake on a serving tray. She also appeared to be carrying a wine glass and a champagne flute.
The footage of the woman quickly gained traction on social media, where people tried to make light of the chaos.
“She seems polite about it,” one Twitter user wrote.
“With everything going on, sometimes you have to take a moment to treat yourself,” another person wrote.
“It would have gone to waste otherwise,” someone responded.
Others said the video made them laugh or smile in the midst of what has been a stressful week.