[18 Dec Update – Due to the TikTok having been removed earlier today, we’ve added the video from Reddit down below]
Working as an ice cream server may sound easy, but like any job dealing with the public, rude customers can make it miserable. An Illinois ice cream server, who frequently posts on TikTok, refused service to a customer after capturing his rude behavior on camera. The footage is currently circulating online, leaving the internet sharply divided.
The clip comes by way of TikToker @coldstoneinorlandpark, who routinely records customer interactions, ASMR videos, and allows viewers a peek behind the curtain of his ice cream parlor, which is based in Illinois. This specific video, however, centers on a rude customer interaction that occurred recently. With over 18.7 million views, 1.3 million likes, and 5,600 comments, the video has undoubtedly gone viral.
As the video begins, the server is already in the middle of dealing with the rude patron, and he states, “You know what? As a matter of fact, I’m not even gonna make it. You can just leave. Get out of here. I’m not serving you. Get out of here. I’m not serving you.” Meanwhile, the customer threatens, “I’m gonna call the manager,” though the worker fires back, “I don’t care. Call him. I am the manager. Get out! I’m not serving you! Screw you.“
The footage then cuts to earlier in the interaction, when the customer enters his ice cream parlor, which helps to give some context as to the buildup before the dispute occurs. After welcoming the patron, who seemingly mishears what the employee says, the customer asks, “So this is a popular store, right?” The ice cream server admits that it is “pretty popular” and the male patron asks, “What’s your favorite flavor?” The server then recommends “cake batter” though the customer oddly doesn’t ask to taste-test that specific flavor, which the server recommended. Instead, he asks to try the vanilla, and the server goes ahead and gives him a small spoon of the vanilla flavor to try.
Without skipping a beat, the customer then asks, “Can I try the, um, one of these flavors down here?” though it’s unclear which specific flavor he’s asking for. Awkwardly, the server makes an educated guess as to what the patron is asking for, “This one?” Abruptly, the customer simply says, “No.” The server then offers another flavor, to which the customer, curtly states “no” again, but this time with frustration clearly in his voice. “This one?” and again, he says “no.” This is where the customer interaction suddenly takes a turn for the worse.
“Bro, sir. I said this one. Yes. Do not understand. Sir, respectfully. Like, I’m trying to be polite here and you — I just. If you can’t just, like, do a simple test. But, I don’t know. I just, I’m done. Wow.” explains the customer rudely, even though the ice cream server has been polite and attentive to the patron. The man then asks for a medium french vanilla ice cream, and begins enquiring about a potential discount by giving the worker his phone number.
However, the ice cream server has had enough of the customer’s rudeness and fires back, “No, we do use phone numbers, but I’m not gonna let you put it in ’cause you’re being rude.” Flustered, the customer replies, “You what?” and the manager retorts, “Get out of here, I’m not serving you.” which segues into the clip that occurred earlier in the footage.
As the clip continues to circulate, social media users rushed to the comments to react. While some sided with the ice cream server, some netizens accused the footage of being staged. On Reddit, one person wrote, “Why is he filming to start with” while another answered, “He always films his work. He really likes his job at cold stone. He’s been doing it for years at this point.” A third commenter added, “Whether it’s fake or not if this post can help someone stand up for themselves in customer service facing jobs I’m all for it.” On TikTok, a fourth penned, “Let’s normalize not serving rude customers“.
Ultimately, dealing with rude customers is an unfortunate reality of many public-facing jobs, and the stress it brings can quickly wear people down. Moments like these are a reminder that behind every counter is a person doing their best, and a little patience and respect can go a long way.
