A woman from Illinois has said that an employee at a Dunkin’ drive-thru in Chicago called her a “weirdo” after she wished the employee a good day. The interaction was recorded on video and later shared online, where it gained widespread attention.
According to the woman, identified as TikTok creator Inayah Beldeen, Dunkin’ later apologized to her and offered her a $100 gift card following the incident. The video of the exchange became the most viewed content she posted on TikTok, drawing more than 7.8 million views.
Beldeen often posts lifestyle videos about her life as a Muslim woman, according to her TikTok profile. The clip showing the alleged comment was viewed millions of times and received thousands of comments after it spread across social media.
Video shows employee responding before the comment is heard
In the clip posted to TikTok, Beldeen is seen sitting in her car at the drive-thru window, wearing a black hijab and a light green hoodie. On-screen text in the video reads, “Dunkin employee calls me a WEIRDO after I tell her to have a nice day.”
In a longer version of the video, the employee can be heard asking Beldeen if she would like a straw, to which Beldeen replies, “Um, yes please.” The employee then asks, “How are you?” and Beldeen responds, “Thank you so much, have a good day.”
The employee then says, “You too, thank you.” Immediately afterward, a muffled voice, apparently belonging to the same employee, can be heard saying, “weirdo.” In the video, Beldeen’s expression changes from a smile to a look of confusion, and she appears to mouth the word “What?” toward the camera.
@inayahbeldeen Replying to @ronnierants84 I record because it’s a vlog. You’re clearly on TikTok and know what that is. But here’s the full video. I cut 1 sec out cus my credit card was showing. Literally nothing I did or said was wrong. @Dunkin’ #dunkin #dunkindonuts
♬ original sound – Inayah
In a separate, longer clip, Beldeen said the employee had allegedly been rude throughout the interaction, claiming that the employee gave her “death stares” even though she tried to make a brief conversation. She said that when she played back the recording and heard the word “weirdo,” she felt even more upset, adding that she was already having a difficult day.
Beldeen said in the video that she did not believe the comment was related to racism or Islamophobia. She said she did not want the employee to lose her job, but that she wanted Dunkin’ to address the situation. Other diners have also reported feeling singled out by service staff, including a customer’s dispute over a soup order at a New York restaurant.
@inayahbeldeen Replying to @Ashiii88 I privated the video because they were getting harassed. That’s not what I wanted. I just wanted them aware. alhamdulilah I got lucky because Allah gave me this chance to get hasanat. Talk about a duaa directly answered. @Dunkin’ #dunkin #dunkindonuts
♬ original sound – Inayah
According to Beldeen, she emailed Dunkin’ about the incident and received an apology in response. She said the company offered her a $100 gift card along with other items as compensation for what she described as a poor experience at the location.
The video drew a wide range of reactions in the comments section. One commenter wrote, “I think she thought you said ‘hurry up’ instead of ‘how are you,'” suggesting the employee may have misheard Beldeen’s words. Another speculated, “She may have been talking to a coworker,” raising the possibility that the comment was not directed at Beldeen at all.
@inayahbeldeen UPDATE** DO NOT LEAVE A REVIEW PLEASE. THEY DID RIGHT THEIR WRONG Listen the Muslim in me stays quiet. The human in me wanted to say something back. @Dunkin’ and I absolutely tagged the exact location. #dunkin #dunkindonuts
♬ original sound – Inayah
Some commenters said the video affected them personally, with one writing, “I’m too sensitive this would genuinely ruin my day.” Another offered a possible explanation for the employee’s behavior, writing, “Not defending her rudeness but maybe she thought it was weird that you were filming this interaction.”
Other viewers criticized the employee’s conduct directly. One commenter wrote, “That is so unprofessional,” while another made a broader claim, stating, “Dunkin has the worst customer service in the fast food industry.”
Beldeen reportedly accepted the gift card and other items offered by Dunkin’ but has said she does not plan to return to the location. In some cases, these disputes have escalated well beyond heated words, such as an alleged altercation involving a Taco Bell delivery driver in Mississippi.
