A woman had a run-in with a racist customer at a New Jersey flea market. Imagine her surprise when she was recording some Pokémon cards for her son, only for a rude man to start berating her in front of everyone.
TikToker @cat.box.00 shared an interaction that she had with a New Jersey man while looking at Pokémon cards at a flea market. While with her young daughter, she decided to film some Pokémon cards so her son could see what they had in stock. A man standing next to her “looked her up and down” before she even started filming. While recording, the man asks her, “You wanna go in my pocket and sit on top of me, too?” Apparently, she was too close for comfort even though there was plenty of space between them.
The woman loudly states back, “I’m not even near you!” She steps back from the cards but continues to record him as he tells her to “have some respect.” He tries to preach to her about leaving space between. He says to her, “If it was COVID, you’d be over there.” With this, he points away from the card area. She then walks away from where he’s standing. But he continues going on and on, berating her loudly in front of all the other shoppers. He then berates her for cursing even though he was cursing around her child to begin with.
In an update video, @cat.box.00 said this man kept going even after she walked away and stopped recording. So, she started recording her a second time. He makes kissy faces at her camera and she exclaims, “Something is wrong with you.” He replies, “Yeah, there is. I’m an American and I want my space.” She isn’t sure what’s he’s going on about because she’s an American, too. At this point, she says she thinks he assumed she isn’t American “based on how we look.”
He mumbles to himself, “You need to wake up. Learn some manners.” He continues on and on, telling her there’s nothing wrong with him even though she stopped talking long ago. Eventually, she leaves the area and the miserable man behind.
Commenters flocked to this TikToker’s video, astounded by how the man was willing to treat another stranger. Commenters were also divided on how others watching this unfold failed to react and stand up for her. As one commenter noted, “Look at all the wonderful men stepping in to defend you. THEY’RE SUCH GREAT PROTECTORS, AREN’T THEY?”
Others applauded the TikToker for standing up for herself even in the face of cruelty and racism. One commenter stated, “Oh he was SURPRISED when you snapped back, good job momma!” Another commenter added, “When you shifted gears, I literally felt my depression lift.” Commenters continue to share their reactions on her video. Many continue giving her credit for staying calm and handling the situation with grace.
