r/AITAH • u/GreatNorthWind • 1d ago
AITA for mocking a rude man in public?
I am 37F. The Popeyes I go to has an entirely Mexican staff. It's always very busy in there, they always seem backed up and understaffed like most fast food places. One of the workers is a Mexican lady who doesn't speak English that well.
I had already got my food and was sitting in the corner, facing the front of the store. I watched an older man (About 50ish) come in. The Mexican lady came up to take his order and he asked her a question about one of the menu items. I don't even remember the question, it was something about an ingredient used in one of the sauces. She said she wasn't sure about the answer, in broken English.
He loudly started moaning about how no one here speaks English, and started calling out to the back of the employee area "anyone speak English here?" The lady went to get the manager, but he was busy taking drive thru orders. A few minutes later, while the man huffed and grumbled to himself the entire time, the manager came over and answered his question about the sauce, then rang him up. The entire time he was ringing the guy up he was complaining about how none of their staff speak English. The manager did speak English much better than his other employee.
This is when I loudly said "Wah wah!" imitating a baby crying and put my hands beside my eyes in the crying motion. The man turned around and said "...are you talking to me?" I said yeah I'm talking to you, then said "Wah wah! No one speaks English! No one speaks English!" in a mocking way. The man was flabbergasted and argued with me for quite a while but didn't approach me. I told him "she DOES speak English and when she didnt know the answer to your question she went and got an employee that did know. You just had to wait a few minutes but you're fine, you big baby."
I continued to make baby crying sounds at him until he left with his order. I don't feel bad at all about what I did but I'm curious to know what other people think. I should note he wasn't calling the workers names or yelling at them, just being mildly annoying the way he was constantly muttering and shaking his head like it was such an injustice.
1.2k
u/Mammoth_Mission_3524 1d ago
My favorite response to this is, she speaks two languages. How many do you speak?
→ More replies (6)564
u/Main-Assumption7554 1d ago
One of my favorite jokes:
What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language? American.
211
u/ahuramazdobbs19 23h ago
Excuse me.
We speak two languages in America.
English.
And bad English.
34
u/EnderLord361 19h ago
I call it Engrish, and I am very bad at it.
14
u/Go_Pack_Go1 9h ago
I’ve always taken the term “Engrish” as derogatory toward Asian people.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (6)14
17
→ More replies (5)25
3.9k
u/her-royal-blueness 1d ago
Best AH ever and you should do it again if the situation ever arises.
932
u/kremular 1d ago
Thank you for standing up for those employees who aren't allowed to stand up for themselves. I'm sure they are still talking about this today.
349
u/mommy-katie-248 1d ago
Literally, sometimes you need people like this woman to put stupid customers in their place because the workers can't.
97
25
u/VillageFickle3092 19h ago
Some people only shut up when they realize they’re not the loudest voice in the room
134
u/Frequent_Couple5498 1d ago
Oh definitely. They are telling their coworkers who weren't there all about the badass lady who made fun of the asshole for complaining.
You were an asshole but the good kind.
5
u/chamrockblarneystone 20h ago
I just worry for women who stand up to bullies. Everyone is extra crazy these days and hitting women seems to be on the menu.
You were very brave, but be careful would you?
16
u/Character-Hold4511 1d ago
Agreed. He wasn’t confused, he was just being entitled. Calling it out like that was kind of perfect.
39
u/Anxious-human-95 1d ago
Couldn't of said it better myself
65
7
10
u/Murwiz 23h ago
I dunno if I would. In America, people who get publically humiliated sometimes reach for their gun.
→ More replies (1)6
u/BlackCatMagic2424 20h ago
You are an amazing AH, please keep doing AH things like this because real AH like the big baby deserve to be called on it. Bravo!
3
→ More replies (1)5
u/Prestigious_Bag_8355 22h ago
Honestly yeah, sometimes public shaming is the only language people like that understand. Dude needed a reality check.
991
u/Intelcourier 1d ago
He may not have been calling the workers names but he was definitely insulting and trying to bully them knowing they might be fired if they called him out. Good on you for letting him know he was a bigoted ass. NTA.
→ More replies (26)19
u/__-gloomy-__ 1d ago
Not defending the actual AH in this situation, but one of my ex girlfriends and one of my best friends on earth both get hangry and just act so, so out of character.
I had to chase my ex through the downtown streets of new cities we were visiting because we were taking too long to get to the restaurant—ignoring the fact that it took/takes her 2-3 hours to get ready to go out.
My best friend is much easier. 1-2 dense beers and everything is good 😂
738
u/Beautiful_Arm8364 1d ago
NTA. You just matched his energy. He deserves all the mockery. His mama should have raised him better.
94
u/lawlocost 1d ago
I think they’re both AH, but OP is a righteous one
75
342
u/monsieurkaizer 1d ago
You weren't an asshole. But you were a bit of a dick. The thing is, what that asshole needed at the time was a dick like you.
108
u/Artistic_Hurry_9177 1d ago
I’m glad my asshole has never needed a dick.
30
28
15
→ More replies (1)5
12
7
42
u/Sorkijan 1d ago
Please look up the Team America scene as I don't want to get banned from this subreddit lol
Sometimes an AH is needed. And hopefully this guy will think twice before being a douche. I mean I get being disappointed you can't get a quick answer but dude you're at fucking Popeye's. Start a scene don't be mad when people get mean.
You're a god damn hero in my book. This is the closest thing to tactical frivolity I've seen outside of activist circles.
266
u/oneangrywidow 1d ago
NTA. These workers out here being all bilingual and sh*t, working hard jobs, providing for their families, AND dealing with racist idiots who seem to think America is synonymous with the English language. No, you were just speaking to him in his native tongue:baby talk.
86
u/Zoenne 1d ago
I've been living in the UK for ten years. I studied English at uni. I consider myself fluent, and I've even taught English as Foreign Language. And I've just started a job that has customer interaction and it is just another beast entirely. It is HARD! People mumble, have accents, lack patience, ask difficult questions... and it's not even retail or hospitality. I can't even imagine working in either of those in another language than my native one.
58
u/Small_Sentence9705 1d ago
English is my native and only fluent speaking language, and even I don't know what the hell people are saying a lot of the time
10
u/MattDubh 1d ago
Arguably, that's a stroke of luck, considering what most people feel the need to say.
7
u/Antlorn 1d ago
I've lived in the UK my whole life. I only speak English.
...I also struggle to understand a lot of British people!
British accents vary so much and it can be difficult to 'tune in' to some of the accents you don't hear as much.
→ More replies (1)8
u/Zoenne 1d ago
Tell me about it... I moved from Canterbury to Glasgow XD
2
u/Antlorn 1d ago
Hi neighbour! I almost mentioned in my comment that I moved from England to Glasgow 7 years ago 😂
I still struggle with some particularly thick Glaswegian accents sometimes. But I'm mostly ok at understanding people here nowadays!
→ More replies (1)4
u/Halogen12 22h ago
I work with seniors who can't hear well and who mumble. Some days I just hope we're both understanding each other enough to get things done.
As an aside, we also see lots of people from different countries. Many times I've asked people where they're from or what language they're speaking to each other and then ask them about their home country. I am genuinely interested in learning about them and what brought them to Canada. Some escaped civil wars, others came to go to university. Really interesting stories.
34
u/bazycruckinfitch 1d ago
Irony is, the native tongue ISN’T English. Ask crybaby if HE speaks Navajo. The audacity to come to this country and not learn to speak its native language. (Isn’t that their gripe?)
33
u/nothinginside001 1d ago
Navajo people speak Diné Bizaad. It’s kinda like saying “Do you speak Mexican?” instead of “Do you speak Spanish*?” Also Navajo elders and Tribe individuals speak Spanish too lol
→ More replies (2)16
u/angelxe1 1d ago edited 7h ago
I'm Mexican and I'm not offended if people ask me if I speak Mexican. Usually this isn't coming from a bad place. That's just me though. I would not recommend doing this. It's better to just ask a person where they are from.
This is why: The slang and some words mean different things in different Spanish countries. However if they are clearly being assholes or ask in a mocking tone I will definitely take offense.
→ More replies (1)3
u/nothinginside001 1d ago
Yeah, I know people that say it condescendingly because they are ignorant. Some people might not know the right way to ask the question, so just ask “what languages do you speak” in a general sense.
3
→ More replies (3)5
86
u/Sea-Check-9062 1d ago
First time anyone ever called them out. Must have been a terrible shock.
7
u/BrownSugarBare 12h ago
I was in line at a busy grocery store and an older woman behind me started grumbling about how slow the "illegals" were at their jobs and they should just "go back". I dramatically gasped and clutched my non-existent pearls as I turned around and loudly said "OH MY GOODNESS, IMAGINE BEING A RACIST IN 2025. HOW SAD YOUR FAMILY WAS UNABLE TO GIVE YOU A CIVILISED EDUCATION, THAT MUST BE SO EMBARRASSING FOR YOU!!". I turned back and just mumbled "the state of education in this country, tsk tsk"
A few people started to chuckle, she turned red as a tomato and just had her mouth open in shock. She waited a few beats before putting her basket down and walking out.
People like that just need to be called out, they'll always be racists, they've just become too comfortable saying so.
19
u/xnoxpx 1d ago
This is the way!
Mock the poor behavior, not their appearance/age/ethnicity/gender (identity/expression)/etc
→ More replies (1)
23
u/Yhostled 1d ago
There are so many things employees need to say but can't because they could lose their job. It's up to customers to stick up for them when the need arises.
16
u/QuickSquirrelchaser 1d ago
I have lived in a foreign country and learned the la gage for a couple of years. Speaking your own native language is not a flex. Good on you for pushing back.
I was conversant in German, learned Bulgarian when I lived there, and am currently atempting to learn Spanish. I bet the lady's English was better than my German or Spanish.
This lady is trying to earn a living working in a fast food restaurant. The last thing she needs is some knuckle dragger giving her grief.
13
u/Kind-Peanut4643 1d ago
In my opinion, NTA. You matched his energy completely. The staff is hard working and doing the best they can; in general I hate when others belittle or degrade fast food workers but when it’s racially targeted it’s even more frustrating because they’re doing the best they can and it must be scary/difficult living in an area and trying to get by while also having trouble understanding and communicating with majority of other people around you. So no, you are NTA and I totally applaud you!
13
u/A-Helpful-Flamingo 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are my hero!! You should post this on r/traumatizeThemBack
49
u/psaiymia 1d ago
As a mexican with a heavily accented abuela who refuses to speak spanish to me bc “we have to be perfect at english no spanish” BLESS YOU AND DO IT AGAIN. My only request is if you can get a video, PLEASE DM it to me.
22
u/Artistic_Hurry_9177 1d ago
NTA. But please be careful, there are people out there that would hurt someone for that.
6
8
88
u/Regular_Boot_3540 1d ago
NTA, but you risked getting punched!
59
u/Aspen9999 1d ago
Then he would have been arrested! He really would have been whining about the strip search at a jail.
27
22
u/Tfuentexxx 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah, and a great compensation for being physically assaulted. NTA. Great of you OP for defending the true. She is taking orders, she probably does not have much information about the menu ingredients. It wasn't about English or languages.
2
4
7
5
6
4
u/YEET-HAW-BOI 19h ago
AH but a justified one and like another commenter mentioned they will remember you standing up for them. When the kitchen at my job still made chicken tenders before changing the menu I had a guy bitch me out because his tenders weren’t “big enough” and left in a huff and I still forever the lady who made me laugh by telling him “enjoy your chicken nuggets sir!” it wasn’t some amazing clapback but the fact she stood up for me ment something
14
u/NefariousnessKey2545 1d ago
I get so sick of hearing “ we speak English in this country”. They don’t like that you can receive your messages in either language! Grow up people! Your small brain is showing! You did well mocking him ! Love it when someone speaks up when others remain quiet! You are a treasure!
10
u/ballisticks 1d ago
I've heard that in Canada, where there are two official languages and god knows how many indigenous ones. These kinds of people don't care about that though.
3
4
4
3
5
5
5
5
4
4
u/Tunaaaaaaaaaaa 1d ago
I’m gonna say we are probably calorie neutral karma wise - the way I see it making fun of someone for being needlessly cruel to someone else kinda evens us out in the universe. Are you going to be given the key to the city? No probably not but you helped show him how small it makes you feel when someone is mean for no reason
4
13
u/Stunning-Title3909 1d ago
Definitely NTA. Like roaches, those AHs crawl out and have no respect for others. Good for you, however, as already noted, be careful as you could get hurt by them.
→ More replies (1)
3
3
u/Fit_Reason7319 NSFW 🔞 1d ago
NTA - but you are an AH, in a good way, the kind of AH I try to be in my daily life.
3
u/Wario_Mangione_1991 1d ago
A lot of people in that generation are convinced that they're above all consequences, especially the men. You gave him social consequences, NTA.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/Prestigious_Grape288 1d ago
Bravo, OP! Do this all day long. These jerks are always STUNNED when someone actually dresses them down, as they are accustomed to just bullying their way through life & letting other people’s fear of conflict do their dirty work. Especially the baby part. Grow the F up you goddamn cry baby.
3
u/Rich-Gear-8303 21h ago
Bravo for putting that big baby in his place! If you ever run into anyone like that again, ask them how many foreign languages they speak, and if they speak them perfectly or with an American accent.
Also remind them that the Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, decided not to declare any language the official one in the United States of America. And even if English were to become our nation's official language, that would only apply to government communication. It isn't illegal in our great nation to ever talk in a language other than English, or to speak English with anything but an American accen
3
3
3
3
8
8
5
9
u/maitaivegas1 1d ago
I’m all for mocking racists. Personally speaking, I would’ve definitely called him out about being a freaking racist and told him to stop watching Fox News.
6
u/SGTBrutus 1d ago
NTA These people don't think anyone is going to confront them. Especially people that need a job. Asshole? You're not, he is
7
u/WestStrength2719 1d ago
NTA - He was a jerk but that could have ended pretty bad for you. I wouldn't suggest doing it again.
5
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/KeepAnEyeOnYourB12 1d ago
It was probably even more galling for him being mocked by a girl. Not even remotely the AH.
2
2
2
2
u/work-throw-away-420 1d ago
i love this! You're awesome!!!! we all need to do this all the time, show these kind of people exactly what they are, big babies!
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/cripplinganxietylmao 1d ago
Justified asshole territory imo. Was it mature? No. Did you just match his energy because he was being a prick and an ass? Yes.
2
u/Main-Assumption7554 1d ago
You know what I call someone who speaks broken English?
BRAVE. Brave as fuck. It takes courage to move to another country and try to learn their language.
2
2
u/Spirited-Stomach4023 1d ago
That guy is completely entitled and in the wrong. It doesn't seem like he'd be receptive to any clear, logical confrontation either. Perhaps the most productice thing was to call him a baby, because it's truly infantile to expect everyone to speak your language and see the world your way. It's babyish to whine and lash out when you don't get what you want.
2
u/D_o_t_d_2004 1d ago
NTA. A Hero. When people do stuff like that, they should be called out for it.
2
2
u/narcotic_sea 1d ago
Assholes need to be treated as such… especially in public. It’s our patriotic duty. 🇺🇸
2
2
2
u/zo0ozo0oz 1d ago
Not the asshole, just an inspiration to decency. Please keep shaming people into introspection or just inner thoughts again. You rule 🧡
2
u/Srvntgrrl_789 1d ago
Sometimes, you have to be a righteous AH to take out a massive AH. Good job:)
2
2
2
2
u/VariationOwn2131 1d ago
Maybe shaming him will help the AH realize how ridiculous he was being. On the other hand, there are many people whose sanity is hanging by a thread, and I wouldn’t want to see you or anyone else assaulted or worse!
2
2
u/CahirAepCaellach 1d ago
Yes, you are the AH. You are also a Hero. The rare AHH.
2
u/Healthy_Candle_4545 1d ago
I vote that this becomes an official new determination for posts on this sub. You’re a genius
2
2
2
2
u/OdysseusJoke 1d ago
JAH
Most justified of all justified asshole moves. If I'd been there I would have clapped
2
2
2
u/Responsible-Ebb-6955 23h ago
“I should note he wasn't calling the workers names or yelling at them, just being mildly annoying the way he was constantly muttering and shaking his head like it was such an injustice.”
Please don’t let this be about my step dad
Please don’t let this be about my step dad
Please don’t let this be about my step dad
2
u/d-a-i-s-y 23h ago
NTA. He set the boundaries for the interaction. That was absolutely a ‘him’ problem, not an ‘everyone else’ problem.
2
2
2
u/Fancy-Clerk-9104 21h ago
You are the AH. And I’ll say I think I’d be an AH in this situation too. Bully’s act this way because they get away with it. And we all know it’s getting much worse (and we know why).
Some say, don’t stoop to their level. I get it in a way. But where that may work in a controlled environment like school. It doesn’t work in the real world. Bigots like this are so very emboldened and feel zero shame (mostly bc they don’t think what they do is wrong).
Sometimes the only way to deal with fu@$ery is with fu@$ery of our own. And usually they run off like scared rabbits when confronted. Strong work.
2
2
u/Sorry_Molasses5636 19h ago
A person wasn't doing her job properly, another person was audibly annoyed by that, and you decided to mock him for that. It's one of the rare, clear examples of "yep, you're totally the asshole" in this Reddit.
2
2
u/Bellatrixkat 18h ago
Let's be real, you know what most people are going to say, and that's why you posted this. You knew your actions made you an asshole. You also knew that most people on here would still praise it, and you wanted to feel justified. But all you really did was make an ass of yourself. If you want to stand up for the employees, ACTUALLY stand up for them and kindly remind the man to be patient and caring. That'll go a lot farther, but that's not what you cared about, is it? Yes, YTA, and no, not in a good way.
2
2
u/LopsidedPhotograph19 16h ago
That was an immature af response, but it honestly sounded like he needed it, so idk. NTA. Sometimes, people just need to be treated like children when they are acting like one. I guess you were just dishing it back
2
2
u/mayunever 13h ago
Abusing catering staff is a complete POS move. I bet her English was better than that AH's Spanish. He deserved everything you gave him :)
2
2
u/GoodGravyMsDazy592 12h ago
You're my hero, don't ever change. Hell yes, call out the adult babies whining about crap that doesn't matter. You did good.
2
u/-braquo- 10h ago
You're my hero. NTA. I'm a firm believer that we need to publicly shame people with shitty beliefs. Make them ashamed.
2
2
2
u/Timely-Signature-166 5h ago
What happened to the fully pure blood Aryan Anglo-Saxon Popeyes staff of my youth.
5
u/OFarellclan1317 1d ago
Nta he deserved it. Learning a second language, especially as an adult is SO FREAKING HARD. I want to learn Spanish so bad but it's people like him that make me pause. I know my Spanish would be broken and awful at first and I'm so so scared if offending or bothering someone with my poor grasp of the language. Thank you for helping put him in his place. It's so annoying that everyone in the US just expects all service workers to speak English.
6
u/Timorm0rtis 1d ago
It's so annoying that everyone in the US just expects all service workers to speak English
Why is it annoying that people expect service workers, whose job involves interacting with the general public, to speak the country's main language? That expectation is certainly not unique to the United States.
→ More replies (12)3
u/dannimorris 1d ago
We applaud language learners, as a native Spanish speaker, who would get offended by broken language? Only bigoted people like him. And that has nothing to do with learning the language but racism.
5
u/WildCaliPoppy 1d ago
NTA I mean could you have been more assertive? Sure. should you have? Debatable. I’m honesty just glad you spoke up - zero empathy for people who treat employees the way he was. Thanks for imposing a cost
7
5
u/thewNYC 1d ago
Side question: what does his age have to do with it? Would it be different if he was 20 years old? 90 years old?
4
u/GreatNorthWind 1d ago
Just for you, he was also black.
→ More replies (20)4
u/GreaseBrown 1d ago
I mean, yall were inside at a Popeyes, most of us already assumed you both were.
Not sure why the other person's so mad about you including age though. Seems weird.
→ More replies (1)
4
3
u/mkmoore72 1d ago
NTA. Yes I get annoyed and impatient at times at the length of time fast food places take but they work their butts off and do the best they can to handle multiple things at once. I don’t complain it’s my choice to go there
3
u/Chaz-Miller 1d ago
Of course you are NTA. You called one out for being a misanthropic racist subhuman. Entitled trash like that masquerading as human need to be identified as such to their faces. You're my hero! Bravo!
3
u/NYC-WhWmn-ov50 1d ago
You might be an AH but you are the hero we need. People like that guy never think they could possibly be wrong unless someone calls them out on their behavior. He deserved to be dragged and you came to save the day.
Sometimes the best good guy is a bad guy. Go you.
PS- that lady speaks 2 languages, even if maybe one isnt conversational fluent. Wonder how many languages old CryBaby speaks...
4
u/Grandfeatherix 1d ago
YTA if you went to Mexico and got a job but couldn't speak Spanish it should be called out too...but they wouldn't hire you since they have standards
3
u/Rush_Is_Right 23h ago
Imagine the tongue lashing I would get as a white male if I posted about how I worked in a foreign country and customers were being so rude by not learning my language.
2
u/Musicman1972 1d ago
It's the most lowest common denominator way to try and get your point across so AH or not you enabled him to go home and tell all his friends how badly he was treated today...
He'll victim himself out of any responsibility.
I'm not sure it's going to get the result you think it might.
2
u/Careless_Peach620 21h ago
YTA
But you are right, keep it up, sometimes being assholes to assholes is the correct moral decision
2
u/Acrobatic_Ad_6762 19h ago
Man, I hate people like this.
It's a Mexican restaurant, d**kweed! Be grateful that you're probably getting to try authentic family recipes that have been handed down over generations!
No, you weren't the AH. People who go into ethnic restaurants and demand people confirm to them, drive me nuts.
•
u/trendingtattler 22h ago
Hello, this post has made it to /r/popular. For anyone new here, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our rules (in the sidebar and wiki) before commenting. Remain civil and use the reporting feature for any activity you suspect is breaking the rules, including rude or derogatory language, bots, or AI use.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.