An Austin, Texas woman says a first date ended almost as quickly as it began after a conversation about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey led the man to allegedly tell her he didn’t think Black women could be beautiful. She said she walked out moments later.
The clip comes by way of TikToker Grayson Smith, who typically creates lifestyle content with a strong emphasis on dating, relationships, wellness, and day-in-the-life storytelling. In her latest TikTok, the Austin-based lifestyle creator recounts a “nightmare” first date at Barton Springs that quickly took an unexpected turn.
Recalling the encounter, she explained that the pair had been discussing Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey when the conversation took an unexpected turn. “I was on a first date the other day and it was going fine, and I brought up the new Odyssey movie. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so excited to go see it.’ He was like, ‘Oh, it’s actually gonna be a pass for me.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, why?’” she said.
According to the creator, her date replied, “Because Helen of Troy is a Black woman.” She said she was immediately taken aback by the response, adding, “I looked at him and I was just like, ‘Huh?’” Continuing on, the man allegedly goes on to say, “Yeah, she’s supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She started the war.“
Describing her reaction, Grayson said, “Literally, my stomach dropped.” She recalled asking her date, “You don’t think a Black woman can do that?” According to Grayson, he simply replied, “No.” She said the exchange left her feeling “sick” and “uncomfortable,” prompting her to end the date early and leave Barton Springs.
Looking back on the encounter, Grayson said it reinforced her decision not to spend time with people she never wants to be associated with. She also admitted she felt “scared,” explaining that leaving a date early isn’t always easy, before encouraging viewers to “normalize immediately leaving” if someone says “something weird.”
Viewers Say Texas Woman Made the Right Decision
Many viewers applauded Grayson for ending the date immediately, while others criticized the alleged remarks and defended actress Lupita Nyong’o, whom several believed the man was referring to. One person wrote, “Way he was comfortable being so passively racist is nuts.” Another commenter pointed out that he had been referring to actress Lupita Nyong’o, writing, “He was talking about this woman btw,” alongside a photo of the Oscar-winning actress.
The post prompted others to praise Nyong’o’s appearance, with one person replying, “I’d go to war right the [expletive] now,” while another added, “She’s not normal beautiful, she’s strikingly beautiful.” Elsewhere, another viewer drew a comparison to other casting debates, writing, “They can’t stand Helen of Troy being black, but are A-OK with Jesus being white…“
The video has continued to gain traction on TikTok, and many viewers say Grayson’s story serves as a reminder that walking away from an uncomfortable situation is sometimes the right decision.
