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‘I’m asking you to leave’: Florida man walks into restaurant. Then the bartender tells him to leave because he smells suspicious

woman pushing the door (l) couple share restaurant experience (c) restaurant owner asking couple to leave (r)

Dining at a favorite restaurant is usually one of life’s pleasures. Having them boot you out for an unwarranted reason can easily sour it.

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This is what this woman and her husband allegedly experienced at Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q, the owner claiming they reeked of marijuana. But was this the true justification?

What happened at Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q?

In the 40-second clip, TikTok creator Natalia (@natibbyyy) is standing in front of a counter inside Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q, mid-conversation with the alleged owner off camera.

“What’s the problem? What’s going on?” her husband asks the owner.

“I just watched you leave,” the owner responds in a thick Southern drawl. “I have the right to tell y’all to get out of my restaurant, or I can have you arrested for trespassing.”

What was the issue?

“The problem is, you smell like d*pe,” the owner responds, “There’s the door. I’m asking you to leave.”

While the content creator and her husband exit the establishment, she remarks, “I told you there are racist [expletive] here.”

However, the owner’s reply is shell-shockingly offensive. “You’re [expletive] right that I’m racist,” he says matter-of-factly, followed by something incoherent.

 An In-Depth Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q Backstory

Natalia elaborated in the caption that she and her husband allegedly had a target on their backs the moment they stepped foot in the building.

“My husband and I are locals and have eaten at this restaurant many times. During our most recent visit, the owner approached us almost immediately after we sat down and made us feel extremely uncomfortable by sitting nearby and repeatedly staring at us,” she writes.  

From here, she experienced a flood of discriminatory behaviors.

“When my husband stepped outside to get his ID so he could order a beer, the owner questioned me about where he had gone. I politely explained that I wasn’t obligated to discuss my husband’s whereabouts. Shortly afterward, the owner told us we were no longer welcome because we allegedly ‘smelled like marijuana’ which was completely false. Neither of us smokes,” she wrote.

The creator continued, “What made the situation even more upsetting was that we felt singled out and profiled from the moment we arrived. The owner’s behavior gave us the impression that we were being judged unfairly, and at one point he even made comments that we found discriminatory and offensive.”

Viewers Are Horrified

Natalia’s video garnered over 169,000 views, and many expressed their disgust with the entire interaction.

“His last comment was all anyone needs to hear!! He said everything in the end!!! WOW!” one viewer commented.

“How can people look at other people and treat them like that?! I hate it here,” a second stated.

“Ew gross! Was looking at the place to try it but know to keep on driving now. Sorry this happened to you!” a third remarked.

Meanwhile, others encouraged Natalia to take legal action.

“Send this video to a lawyer and they’ll take the case for free, until you win. This is a very easy lawsuit and any lawyer will take you!” one commenter coaxed.

“He just gave you a lawsuit,” another said.

Is This Grounds For A Lawsuit?

Asking customers to leave an establishment because of how you smell is entirely legal because it’s not a protected class, according to FindLaw. Discriminating based on skin color and race, on the other hand, is a different story.

This is very much illegal under both federal law under the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Florida state law. Because Florida is a two-party consent state, everyone involved must consent to being recorded if it’s a private conversation due to the expectation of privacy. However, the Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q owner shouted this racist rhetoric out loud in an open, public setting. Therefore, there’s no expectation of privacy, so it may be permitted, per Justia.

Nevertheless, Natalia can consult a lawyer and file a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations or the U.S. Department of Justice.

@natibbyyy Very disappointing experience. My husband and I are locals and have eaten at this restaurant many times. During our most recent visit, the owner approached us almost immediately after we sat down and made us feel extremely uncomfortable by sitting nearby and repeatedly staring at us. When my husband stepped outside to get his ID so he could order a beer, the owner questioned me about where he had gone. I politely explained that I wasn't obligated to discuss my husband's whereabouts. Shortly afterward, the owner told us we were no longer welcome because we allegedly "smelled like marijuana," which was completely false. Neither of us smokes. What made the situation even more upsetting was that we felt singled out and profiled from the moment we arrived. The owner's behavior gave us the impression that we were being judged unfairly, and at one point he even made comments that we found discriminatory and offensive. We left feeling disrespected and unwelcome. As longtime local customers, this was incredibly disappointing. Based on our experience, we will not be returning. DO NOT EAT HERE ❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️#daytona #daytonabeach #rasict #hogheaven #rasicim ♬ original sound – natibbyyy

The Mary Sue reached out to Natalia via TikTok comment and direct message as well as Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q via contact form.

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Melody Heald is a culture writer. Her work can be found in Glitter Magazine, BUST Magazine, The Daily Dot, and more. You can email her at: [email protected]