A disturbing encounter at an Ohio high school graduation ceremony held at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center is drawing widespread backlash online after a woman was filmed berating two men for speaking Arabic.
The clip shows the woman confronting the men and saying they should “have the courtesy to speak English in America.” When questioned about her reasoning, she doubles down, suggesting she’s had “trouble with people all week,” a statement many interpreted as a thinly veiled dog whistle.
Reddit users wasted no time calling out what they saw as overt racism. “Racist coward,” wrote user DiscoTech1639, while crichmond77 noted, “The fact that you can cover up what you were about to say and still pretend the issue is something else… these people are so narcissistic it’s impressive.”
The incident unfolded not during an Ohio State University graduation, but rather a high school ceremony using OSU’s arena as a venue, according to local commenters. Regardless, the setting has drawn attention due to Ohio State’s already controversial reputation on social issues, as one user put it: “Ohio State ain’t been right since they hired Jim Jordan. Whole school weird bro.”
Beyond the specific location, the clash has reignited broader conversations about linguistic freedom, xenophobia, and what it actually means to be “American.” As user pudgimelon eloquently put it, “These bigots hate America. They hate the First Amendment… America has NEVER been a monolingual nation.”
While some speculated the woman may have been a volunteer usher, not paid staff, that distinction has done little to dampen criticism. “If she’s been having trouble with people all week, maybe she should do a little self-reflection,” offered anowlenthusiast.
The moment has become yet another talking point in the growing list of public confrontations caught on video, underscoring a persistent tension in how the United States grapples with multiculturalism in everyday spaces.
No official comment has yet been made by Ohio State University or the school involved in the graduation, but the clip continues to circulate widely, prompting many to ask: If the freedom to speak your native language in public isn’t protected in America, where is it?
