An Illinois man captured a video in which a customer got into a kerfuffle with an AT&T employee over how she was being treated.
TikTok user Sanni_vs posted the video online, where it attracted commenters on who was in the wrong: the customer or the employee?
The customer starts by telling the employee not to “bring” her issues to work, and instead to “call off if you feel that way.” In that, she felt the employee was taking it out on her by acting as if her request to change her AT&T plan was a big inconvenience. To make a point, the lady imitates the employee, throwing her head back and scoffing.
The AT&T employee admits she’s been having a bad day, not to mention working long hours. “Say that then! Do not treat people like that. I see how you treated me and that’s not fair to me,” the lady urges. She even offers advice: if she needs five minutes to gather herself, then she should’ve done that.
At this point, the employee apologizes and is actively crying. When she also admits to not having used the restroom “all day,” the customer responds sympathetically, “As a woman, you don’t think that I would understand?”
As the AT&T employee is walking away having a crashout, the customer calls after her, “You’re having a breakdown, but you don’t know how to communicate.” Sanni and the employee assisting him get back to their conversation as if nothing happened.
Viewers debate on who was in the right
Sympathies were aligned on all sides of the isle of the awkward moment Sanni caught on video. However, what was clear was many users agreed the customer was in the right to lecture the employee. As one user put it, “Nah she ain’t wrong tho don’t bring it to work 😂.”
Some commenters were quick to demonize the AT&T employee, suggesting she cried to make herself look like the victim. “And, there go the tears,” one user wrote. Another user tried to make it about race by saying, “They always cry to make us look aggressive when we express ourselves.”
One viewer attempted to take the side of the employee, started a 30+ comment thread. “Customers need to understand we are human too !!!! We are allowed to have a bad day. And no we can’t call off!” (Because who can afford days off?) Though OP understood the employee was in the wrong, it wasn’t OK for people online to the “dehumanize” her despite her attempt to apologize.
Hopefully it was a learning experience for her. The customer was indeed right—you shouldn’t be taking your personal woes out on others. What she needs is the space to do better, not unwarranted ridicule online.
