More PR woes for doughnut chain

TORONTO, May 23 (UPI) -- A Canadian international doughnut chain has a major PR issue for the second time in two weeks, this time involving the treatment of a Toronto homeless woman.

Investment manager Teresa Lee told the Toronto Star she bought breakfast for a pregnant homeless woman Wednesday morning at a downtown Tim Hortons franchise and then got a tongue-lashing from an employee because the woman sat at a table to eat.

Lee said the male employee admonished her and asked her if she was willing to clean up the woman's mess.

Tim Hortons spokeswoman Rachel Douglas told the Star in an e-mail the homeless woman had been asked to leave the store on previous occasions,

"What happened here was the act of a Good Samaritan and we agree it was not handled in the best of manners," Douglas told the newspaper. "We have since apologized to the customer."

Two weeks ago, the chain was embarrassed when an employee in London, Ontario, was fired for giving a child a 16-cent miniature doughnut. The woman received an apology and was rehired in a different franchise.