Filipina server gets ‘hate’ for tip in Virginia Beach restaurant
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – It could’ve been just teenage prank, but the message was toxic: “Build that wall, Trump Daddy.”
IHop server Rachel Mau, a Filipina, says that message was written on a receipt returned to her by a group of high school students, Saturday morning, Dec. 10.
On the other receipt where customers are supposed to write in their tip, the message written was “Nah.”
Virginia Beach has an estimated 40,000 Filipino residents with a significant concentration in the Hampton Roads harbor area known for a huge military presence.
The IHop incident comes after a string of reported incidents of so-called receipt rage where customers leave notes, often racist or derogatory, instead of tipping servers.
Reported incidents of bigotry against immigrants and blacks have become frequent in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s campaign and victory.
“It’s very hurtful. I’ve never actually experienced anything like that so it really hurt my feelings. I’m a really friendly person, and I try to be nice to all my tables,” Mau told WKTR.
“I know they’re younger, but I feel like they shouldn’t treat people differently because of race,” Mau added.
Mau said she didn’t think she had done something wrong while serving them, and that she had served the same group the night before without any incident.
She expressed shocked that “they would even have an opinion like that being in high school. I don’t think it’s respectful to write that about anybody at all.”
She hopes, by sharing her story, people will realize how just a few words can make a huge impact.
“I feel sorry for people who do experience this. I now know how they feel, and that’s why I want to spread the word on why you shouldn’t treat people like that,” she told WTKR.
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