There seems to be no end to the number of new incidents where people behave in hateful, racist, and generally unpleasant ways toward others. As if dealing with ICE agents and discriminatory policies were not already enough, people of color and other minority groups now find themselves confronting everyday bigotry from strangers who feel more emboldened than ever to express their prejudice in public. It feels like every week there is another viral video showing someone completely losing control and taking their anger out on people who simply exist near them. One such incident recently occurred in Missouri, inside a Walmart, where a man had an angry meltdown over two women wearing hijabs.
The video begins with the man arguing with a white woman who appears to be defending the two women in hijabs. Based on their exchange, it seems the man had accused the two women of “following” him around the store, an accusation that came out of nowhere and made little sense. When the white woman pushed back, he quickly resorted to insults and began calling her “fat” in an attempt to intimidate her and shut her up.
When one of the hijabi women stepped forward and attempted to speak, he told her to “shut up” because, according to him, she “couldn’t speak English.” He then escalated the situation even further by telling all of them to “go back to their country,” a phrase that has become an all-too-common weapon of xenophobia in the United States. His anger seemed less about anything the women had actually done and more about their mere presence.
As if he had not caused enough disruption already, the Missouri man then tried to justify his behavior to another passerby who had been quietly minding his own business. He began rambling about American demographics and claiming that “white people are being replaced.” When the other man showed no interest in engaging with him, the Missouri man once again became agitated, clearly upset that he was not getting the validation he desperately wanted.
Online reactions were predictably harsh. Many people mocked him for his childish behavior and dramatic outburst inside a Walmart. “He has the mentality of a middle schooler,” one user wrote. Another commenter said, “He’s projecting his inner turmoil and depression onto random people because, deep down, he hates himself.”
Many people also praised the white woman who stood up for the two women in hijabs. One person wrote, “I genuinely love that little blond lady refusing to let him bully those women. She just stepped between them and said, ‘Not today, not on my watch.’ She even gently guided one of the hijabi women back to her friend and said, ‘He’s not worth it.’”
Others pointed out the disappointing lack of response from bystanders, especially the men in the self-checkout area who continued scanning their groceries while the confrontation unfolded just feet away. “It’s honestly saddening,” one user commented. “A six-foot man is screaming at women in your local Walmart, and you’re just pretending nothing is happening?”
