Waiter Harasses an Overweight Woman: What Would You Do?
We've all seen overweight people eat things they shouldn't and thought, "Do they really need that?" But whose right is it to decide what someone should eat? When you're dining out, should the waiter or waitress make healthier suggestions?
"I just feel like a person of your size might want to eat healthier," scolded a waiter when an overweight customer placed an unhealthy order.
Other customers looked on, horrified, wondering if they should get involved.
What they didn't know was that hidden cameras were rolling at Six Brothers Diner in New Jersey and that the waiter, Jeremy Holm, and the overweight customer, Kathryn Gerhardt, were both actors. ABC News' "What Would You Do?" wanted to learn if restaurant patrons would find our meddling waiter's suggestions helpful or hurtful.
It's a scenario taken from the front lines of the war against unhealthy eating and obesity. At some restaurants, there are mandatory calorie counts on the menu. There was even a bill introduced in Mississippi to prohibit restaurants from serving obese customers.
Our actress, Gerhardt, started her day with an order of chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and a side of home fries. This seemed to annoy our waiter, and he suggested halving her order as he broke down the calorie intake. Would the customers who noticed say something or look away?
No matter how upset Gerhardt appeared to get by his unwelcome food suggestions, the waiter was relentless and brought her a plate of "healthy" fruit to fill her up before her real order came out.
When Gerhardt asked the waiter why he was insulting her, he explained that he was just trying to be helpful.
However, nearby customers found our waiter's actions anything but helpful. One couple invited Gerhardt to join them. Another customer told Gerhardt she should just ignore the rude waiter and enjoy her food.
They consoled our overweight actress, but would they say something to our waiter? As he brought over a check to a nearby table, Joseph Martin, spoke up and told him it was not his job to insult people and that he should be fired.
'None of His Business'
In the next scene, as the lunch crowd rolled in, Gerhardt ordered a bacon cheeseburger, onion rings and a milk shake. Again, the nosy waiter commented on the huge, unhealthy amount of food.
At the next table, customers Sarah Levine and Steve Rechtman were horrified when they overheard his comments. Levine reached over to Gerhardt to comfort her and said, "It shouldn't matter to him what you're ordering -- it's none of his business."
They also confronted the waiter by demanding an apology for Gerhardt. When the waiter just shrugged, Rechtman could not sit still any longer. He stood up from his table and complained to the manager about Holm's callous treatment of Gerhardt.
The whole incident was so troubling to Levine, it brought her to tears. When ABC News correspondent John Quinones made his entrance with our camera crew and explained what was going on, Levine opened up about her concern for Gerhardt.
"It was just so jolting and upsetting," she said. "I couldn't believe it hearing it and sitting there. My heart went out to you."
This table's response surprised our actress, Gerhardt, who said, "I thought no one would come to my rescue."
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It's not his business, and I would tell him so!
if an employee were to make a comment that would upset the customer the employee would be fired immediately Bravo to the people that stood up to the Waiter!!! As they should...
Speak to the manager. That's what I would do. Ask to speak to the manager and "suggest" that the waiter is out of bounds. There is no need in this...
GOOD for you!
We all need to stand up for each other!
There is no need in this...
Absolutely..it's not his business, she is not a child,and he's not her parent.
The waiter should mind his own business and offer suggestions only when asked. However, as a customer, I mind my own business unless I think someone is unable to defend themselves. For instance, if the waiter were talking to a fat child (with no parent present), I may have stepped in directly and stopped it. Fat adults can take care of themselves but I'd probably wait around to see if she was stupid enough to tip a waiter for telling her that she was too fat to order off the regular menu.
Plus, the waiter really didn't know her circumstances. Maybe she's been dieting all week, and this is her one "treat night".
Whatever, it's NONE of his business!
Michelle is dealing with the diets of children, to try to teach them good eating habits at a young age so they can make healthier decisions through out their lives,the waiter was talking to an adult who can make her own decisions.
Lordy this resentment toward the current first ladies attempts at improving the health of American children by spotlighting healthy diets and exercise just seems very weird to me.
Does no one remember President Kennedy National fitness drives in the 60's. Aren't there a few old timers out there that can still remember the "Chicken Fat" song playing in their school gym while the kids strove to win the Presidential fitness award?
Touch down
Every morning
Ten times!
Not just
Now and then.
Give that chicken fat
Back to the chicken,
And don't be chicken again.
No, don't be chicken again.
Push up
Every morning
Ten times.
Push up
Starting low.
Once more on the rise.
Nuts to the flabby guys!
Go, you chicken fat, go away!
Go, you chicken fat, go
I swear, in todays partisan climate these same folk would be spouting things like, "Screw You Lady Bird, we like our roads covered in trash so go hawk your Beautify America pinko commie crap elsewhere".
As Paul McCartney wrote: "Let it be." There are advantages for the economy when people are not encouraged to keep fit and America is proving its position as the world's number 1 country for obesity. Chair manufacturers will have to put stronger materials into chairs and make them wider - so they can charge more money; carpenters as well will have to widen existing doors and door manufacturers as well will be winners. Cars will need stronger and more expensive springs and the seats will have to be strengthened. Airlines will have to provide some wider seats at price and a half, or sell 2 seats to flyers. Since they're starting to charge even for the first checked bag, they can weigh the flyers as well as the bags and charge according to weight. People will die younger because of the diseases connected to obesity so the medical profession, funeral homes, headstone manufacturers and insurance companies will be busy - and it's probable that the insurance companies already increase the premiums depending on weight.
So as I said - it's good for the economy.
I'm at the opposite end of the scale, I'm 4/10 and weigh 80 lbs.. so I get looks in restaurants when I order a salad, or can't finish the meal. I want to get up and punch people in the face at times. For a while now, I HAVE to be on a liquid diet, because of esophagus problems,...that's always fun when a server s taking my order, or when people see what I have ordered. It's NOBODY'S BUSINESS!!