He Was First… To Be An A**hole

It is 2018. I am working concessions at a movie theater. I’m stationed at the popcorn, which is the first thing you encounter at this theater. A man walks into the concession stand area but he stays back as he’s talking on the phone. I smile and give him a nod to show that I see him and am ready to help him whenever he’s ready. He doesn’t acknowledge me and continues talking for about five minutes before a woman walks up that wants popcorn. She waits a moment to see if he’s going to order but he keeps talking on the phone.

Me: “Sir, I just want to make sure whether or not you’re ready before I help this next customer?”

He doesn’t respond, just kind of turns to the side and continues his conversation. The woman and I shrug, and I go about helping her. She is very pleasant and nice to chat with. She has barely finished walking away when this man steps up and smacks the counter before starting to rant at me.

Customer: “Are you kidding me?! I’ve been standing there for more than five minutes and you help her before me?”

This man is a white male and the woman is black. It’s important because the way he said “her” was as if he was referring to some disgusting being.

Me: “Sir, I apologize if there was some confusion, but you didn’t seem ready to order. When you first approached my area, I smiled at you and nodded to acknowledge you since you were on the phone. I stood here for at least five minutes while you stood back and continued your phone conversation. Not once did you try to order or even indicate you were ready!”

Customer: “Well, I was here first!”

Me: “I understand, sir. That’s why when the other customer came up, I asked you if you were ready. You chose not to respond and turned away from me, so I had no choice but to help the waiting customer. I’m sorry you feel that was unfair but I’m not going to make another customer wait just because you chose to ignore me. Now, would you like to order some popcorn?”

He huffs and puffs for a few seconds before ordering a large popcorn. About ten minutes later, he returns, one of my managers following behind looking exhausted. As they approach the popcorn station, this man proclaims:

Customer: “That’s her! That’s the girl that was discriminating against me!”

Me: “Excuse me?!”

Customer: “She saw my shirt and discriminated against me!”

He is wearing a jacket that is zipped more than halfway up and I have no idea what shirt he is wearing. I turn to my manager.

Me: “I haven’t seen his shirt. His jacket was zipped like that the whole time; you can check the cameras.”

Manager: *To the customer* “Why do you think she was discriminating against you based on your shirt?”

He yanks the zipper down to reveal a homemade shirt emblazoned with:

Shirt: “TRUMP 2020! F*** THE LIBTARDS!”

Me: *Remaining stone-faced* “Sir, this is the first time I’ve been able to see your shirt. I really don’t care what you wear; have a great day.”

I told my manager I was taking my lunch break and walked in the back as the customer continued to rant about how “YOU F****** LIBERALS JUST WANT TO CENSOR EVERYONE! F*** YOU, LIBERAL B****!”

He was escorted out, without a refund, by security!