A video that recently resurfaced on social media shows a mother and her son being turned away from a restaurant because of what her son was wearing. According to the restaurant staff, the boy’s athletic shorts and t-shirt violated their dress code.
After being told they couldn't be seated, the mother pointed out another child already eating inside. That child, who was white, appeared to be dressed almost identically to her son. Her questions about this inconsistency were met with vague, dismissive answers.
"Unfortunately we do have a dress code," the host told her, offering little explanation beyond that. As the mother panned her phone across the dining area, the camera captured a white boy wearing a graphic t-shirt, athletic shorts, and sneakers—an outfit virtually the same as her son’s.
from PublicFreakout
"But that white kid out there can eat here with his tennis shoes on and his athletic shirt," she responded. The host attempted to clarify that while tennis shoes are allowed, athletic shorts and t-shirts are not. Yet the child already inside was visibly wearing both.
The 'offensive' shirt Reddit
Rather than addressing her concerns directly, the host repeatedly told her, "I would love for you to come back and eat here." The line, repeated multiple times, came off as condescending and failed to answer her specific and reasonable questions.
Something wasn't adding upReddit
The mom, who continued filming, showed her son's outfit on camera: black athletic shorts, black sneakers, and an Air Jordan t-shirt.
Marcia Grant asked a simple question:
"Why does he get to wear athletic wear and my son can't?"
She continued asking for clarification and fairness. Eventually, the host responded, "Honestly, I did not get a good look, but it looked like a regular t-shirt to me," claiming they didn’t consider the white child's shirt to be “athletic.”
One Reddit commenter captured the moment perfectly: "I like how helpless he looked when she asked him to answer her question and not give her sympathy. Looked like his brain was working overtime to find a reasonable answer." Side-by-side images of both children showed no meaningful difference in their clothing.
Commenters across platforms offered ideas for how the restaurant could have handled the situation respectfully and professionally. One suggested a simple approach:
"1. Whoever let that white kid in was wrong, that child also did not meet the established dress code, the staff will be spoken to about applying our dress code appropriately.
2. Because of our oversight, of course you and your son are welcome to eat here as you are. I apologize that this happened. In the future, we will be making a better effort of enforcing the dress code universally (comp kid's dessert / or entire meal)."
But instead of correcting the mistake, the restaurant let the encounter spiral into a viral example of what many see as an obvious double standard based on race.
One Reddit user wrote:
""Instead of letting this mom and her son eat there, this restaurant host was caught upholding a racist double standard."
The Atlas Restaurant Group, which owns the restaurant in the video, eventually issued a public apology to Marcia Grant and her son. In a statement, they wrote, "The difficult situation does not represent who or what Atlas Restaurant Group stands for. While dress codes across Atlas properties are the result of ongoing input from customers, in no way are they intended to be discriminatory." They also stated that they'd "immediately revised" their policy so that children would no longer be subject to dress codes at any Atlas location.
However, this incident isn’t the first time Atlas has been criticized for their dress code practices. In 2019, writer R. Eric Thomas shared a screenshot of the dress code at Atlas-owned restaurant The Choptank, pointing out how rules against items like "excessively baggy clothing" and "brimless headgear" appeared racially biased.
Back then, Thomas was blocked by the restaurant on Twitter (now X), though his access was later restored. According to The Washingtonian, Atlas responded by saying their policy was consistent with other restaurants in the area—but at least one of the restaurants named said they didn’t have a dress code at all.
This article originally appeared 6 years ago.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.