If you DO decide to handle things privately...for the love of bob, cover your ass. This means record the interaction, that way if things go poorly...at least there is an impartial record of it to prevent he-said-she-said situations.
Friendly reminder: in several states it’s illegal to record the interaction if both parties haven’t consented so you should record yourself asking the other person for consent and their agreement if either one of you are in one of those states.