A Hooters waitress has revealed what she and her colleagues are tired of hearing from customers.
In a recent post on Insider, the worker — who made the decision to stay anonymous —revealed some of her responses to creepy patrons and their attempts to flirt with her.
She said some customers would ask: “Are you on the menu?” to which she and other waitresses would “fake-laugh to ease the tension.”
Internally, the waitress said she would tell herself, “‘Hahaha. OK, whatever, grandpa,’”
She added that she regularly hears bold sexual comments from patrons.
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Another comment that she routinely hears that is not only cringe, but also sexist in nature, is: “Why aren’t you smiling?”
She said that as a waitress, you’re often running around and someone will stop and say “Why aren’t you smiling? Just smile more. Aren’t you happy to be here?”
The waitress, who is a Black woman, also said that she sometimes gets a comment that can perpetuate the fetishisation of Black women: “I like me some hot chocolate.”
Comments could be outright racist, with some customers saying “I don’t want curly hair in my food.”
The waitress also addressed other derogatory phrases directed towards her such as “Hooters is a strip club” and “Hooters girls are dumb.”
She explained that many of the girls that work at the restaurant to earn extra money on the side as a gig.
“I have a master’s degree — this is my side job,” she added. “My manager from my first store was getting her nursing degree while she was a Hooters girl.”
Hooters has gotten some backlash in recent months, particularly over the scantily clad outfits.
In October, workers had to wear shorts that barely covered their backsides. The company did later reverse the dress code policy.
In an email to Indy100, a Hooters spokesperson said: “As we continue to listen and update the image of the Hooters Girls, we are clarifying that they have the option to choose from traditional uniforms or the new ones. They can determine which style of shorts best fits their body style and personal image.”
Read the full story from Insider here.
