If you happened to be dining in and saw a restaurant manager refuse service to a patron because he was wearing a “Make America Great” (MAGA) hat, how would you react?
The episode is based on real-life events that have taken place across the United States since Trump became president, such as when The Red Hen Restaurant in Virginia refused service to White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in June 2018.
Although the scene is set, the customers seated nearby the hat-wearing actor, Brian, are not arranged.
So, how will they react to an unfair refusal of service that plays out before them?
And no, the diner does not have a dress code prohibiting hats. The manager, also an actor, appears adamant about rejecting the MAGA slogan, which he doesn’t hesitate to air his views about.
“I’m gonna ask you to remove your hat,” the manager tells Brian, adding that he will not be served if he wears a MAGA hat.
“I’m not taking off the hat,” Brian responds, acting aghast at this request.
“The hat is upsetting to people in this restaurant,” protests the manager.
The back-and-forth conflict catches the attention of those seated nearby, and there are a variety of reactions.
One lady appears fairly undeterred with her meal and does not register the manager’s protest as something to be worried about. She makes it clear she does not support the MAGA slogan but is not bothered by the hat. She suggests that Brian remove his hat if he wants to eat.
As the cameras roll for each scene, most people object in their own ways when they see Brian, who is cleanly dressed and not causing a fuss, being denied service.
One lady offers to order for Brian in one scene.
In another scene, a group of diners seated nearest sympathize with him and invite him over to their table.
“It’s total nonsense what that guy tried to do to you,” one of them tells Brian.
When show host John Quiñones walks in on the scene after the guys get into a restrained disagreement with the manager, he asks them for their opinions on the matter.
“That guy made a judgement of that gentleman sitting there, just based on his hat, and not based on his character … like how good of a person he was,” says one of the guys. “I think that’s just really wrong.”
“I don’t think that politics is a justification for not serving,” adds another.
Well, the strongest protest comes in next. We won’t spoil it for you, but the next one gets most everybody involved.
