Noah Bierig, Wichita, Kansas server homophobic episode with James Blick goes viral leading to customer apologizing over offensive slur and thousands since raised for gay causes.
A Wichita, Kansas waiter who had to endure receiving a homophobic slur scrawled on a meal receipt has received the last laugh after the scrawling going viral and leading to a full blown apology along with thousands of dollars since raised for gay causes.
Noah Bierig, a self admitted 19-year-old gay server at Bubba’s 33 in Wichita, said the incident happened on a Sunday two weeks ago.
He was serving a group of young men when he felt at least one seemed like he staring at his painted nails and pride bracelet, giving him glaring looks.
Instead of a tip, a customer recently wrote a homophobic slur on this server’s receipt. Tonight, we’ll hear how he’s trying to turn the hurtful act into a powerful anti-bullying message. #KAKENews pic.twitter.com/bUFxeiCQ60
— Eli Higgins (@EliTheTVGuy) July 24, 2024
‘I’m not used to that sort of blatant homophobia’
Upon it being time to pay the bill, the group left no tip with one individual writing a homophobic slur instead of a gratuity amount along the receipt.
But it didn’t stop there.
One of Bierig’s friend’s went on to share the receipt online, setting off a surprising chain of events. Emblazoned with the man’s name in print and script, it spurred a full-blown apology.
‘The first time I went up to the table, they were just shooting me a couple dirty looks,’ Bierig told KAKE News of the initial encounter. ‘And every time I would walk away, they would kind of just start laughing a little bit.’
He said it was one man in particular who seemed put off by his painted nails – a gift from his mom when he came out.
He said he felt like the customer and his party were not friendly. It did not bother him though, he told the outlet.
Bierig recalled how he did his best to serve the table like any other, despite being uncomfortable.
‘I’m not used to sort of blatant homophobia like that,’ Bierig told KAKE.
Customer forced to offer full apology
After the group left, he was shocked to find one of the group’s receipts had no tip, and that the line was instead filled in with the word ‘f*g’.
He said the slur left him beside himself and deeply unnerved.
‘That hurt me a lot,’ he said.
‘I’m not the type to cry at work, but I got to say – that was definitely the first time that had happened to me.’
But karma was around the corner, when one of Bierig’s friends shared the offensive receipt on social media, with the offender’s name in full-view. It was soon after when social media commentators barraged the customer with messages complaining about the offensive behavior.
The customer came forward to apologize, while claiming not having receive good service.
‘I know it was wrong of me to write what I did,’ James Blick wrote on Facebook before deleting his accounts. ‘[A]nd for that I am very sorry.
‘The overall dining experience wasn’t that great,’ he added.
‘I shouldn’t have dealt with it by saying what I did.
‘I did try to call the restaurant to apologize to the guy but couldn’t contact him. I am very sorry to anyone who was affected or hurt by my words.
‘I have learned a valuable lesson in all of this and nothing like this will ever happened again.’
Finding one’s support mechanism
Blick has told of being on the receiving end of ‘hateful comments, messages, and phone calls’ he and his spouse have received since, before scrubbing himself from social media.
The episode led to Bierig’s friends setting up an online fundraiser through the town’s LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, that’s raised thousands of dollars.
There, anyone can offer an amount that’s treated and tabulated as the rightful tip he should have received.
‘Whatever comes out comes from that, it’s going to be donated,’ Bierig explained as the tips continue to come in.
Of the support he’s seen, Bierig stated, ‘It’s absolutely insane. I mean, I’ve never actually gotten 100% tip, and at this point, it’s probably about a 3,000% tip.’
Adding, ‘I never thought anything like this would happen based off just a couple Facebook posts from my friends and family.
‘Love is always the most important thing. That no matter what, you’ll always be able to find your support even if you think that there isn’t any more in the world.’
Bierig said Bubba’s 33 is matching his donation going to GLSEN – a firm that works to stop discrimination, harassment, and bullying toward those with different sexual orientations.
