After the original video hit almost two million views on Twitter, TikTok edits flooded the FYP. According to the poster, the video was originally taken on Sept. 18, 2021, around 4 a.m. in Austin, Texas. It begins with an employee telling a group in the corner that they need to leave and quickly escalates, resulting in one customer falling off of the counter and into the kitchen, several thrown chairs, and some hand-to-hand combat between multiple parties. It’s unclear what led to the kerfuffle but the videographer, who goes by Wallstreet_Ray on the social media platform, can be heard trying to de-escalate throughout, just hoping to order his waffle. “Did you ever get your waffle?” one commenter wanted to know. “Unfortunately not kitchen was closed afterwards lol,” he responded. The employee, who one viewer dubbed an Avenger, took to YouTube after the footage blew up to share her side of the story. She identified herself as Halie B. in the 20-plus-minute storytime shared about a week after the fight went viral. Halie explained that a group of six came in on a busy night and sat themselves in a closed part of the dining area. Despite being informed that seating wasn’t available, they remained there and demanded service. Per Fox News, the group began to “holler” at the employees to take their orders, so she told them they could leave. Halie explained that after four years on and off at Waffle House, she’d earned a “Rock Star” shirt, something given to employees who reach the highest cook level. Rock Star cooks can also serve tables and run the store. Instead, the situation escalated, as one member of the group apparently demand that Halie, “the white girl,” make their food. Eventually, one girl started throwing silverware and kicking plates, per the publication. “That’s how night shift works, and it’s sad,” Halie said. “It’s not safe at night, so we have to do what we can.” It’s not surprising to hear, given how many incidents seem to go viral from the popular breakfast chain. She threw a sugar shaker at her in response, which then led the woman to climb up onto the counter. She fell into the employee area and was removed—though not without a fight—and then went on to hurl the chair at the cook. “I had caught it…and it bounced off my wrist,” she said. The group eventually made their way out, and the staff locked the doors and cleaned the place up. The next day, her manager watched the footage and wrote Halie up for throwing the sugar, but there were no other apparent consequences. Halie eventually left the store of her own accord, but when she tried to get a job at another location they told her she was blacklisted. “I can’t ever work for Waffle House again. I tried working for another sometime earlier this year, and they found out I was blacklisted.” It was surprising considering the original location reportedly telling Halie she could come back any time. But ultimately, Halie said, “It’s not a lot. They were being rude, belligerent. I finished what I started.”
