Daniel and his girlfriend loved going to Chick-Fil-A for a sneaky lunch from time to time and while they had always loved the food and the staff, one trip to the American fast-food giant took an ugly turn. What followed was a whirlwind of emotions for not just the couple but the thousands of people who became invested in this journey. And how did it all start? With a simple note which was never meant to be seen.
A Long Day Of House Hunting
The couple both remember the day to have started on a strong foot, the two had decided to take a big step together and were house hunting for their first home. And while for most couples, this is a true test in their relationship that wasn’t the case for Daniel and his girlfriend.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
The two of them had even managed to strike a few bargains and were feeling content and happy. It only seemed fair that they celebrate the day by stopping at a nearby Chick-Fil-A to get some lunch.
Famished
By the time the two of them arrived at the fast-food joint, both were completely starving and with a long and slow-moving line in front of them, both of them only got more impatient. But of course, there was nothing to do except wait their turn.
Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post via Getty Images
After waiting for what felt like an eternity, it was finally their turn to order. Daniel went ahead and ordered while his girlfriend went and found them someplace to sit. But as Daniel recounted his simple order of a 30-piece chicken nugget box, he noticed that the employee was smirking at him rather oddly.
He Began To Feel Uncomfortable
Daniel tried to not think much about it and assumed that he was just hungry and putting too much thought into this stranger’s facial expression. He paid, said his thank-yous and waited to the side for his order.
Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images
But as he was standing, getting hungrier by the minute, Daniel noticed the same condescending expression on the employee’s face again! What was this dude’s problem? Was there something stuck in Danial’s teeth? Was his order too complicated?
It Was Time
Daniel felt a blush creep up his cheeks and he was feeling self-conscious the more he waited next to the employee with the smirk. He wondered if he knew the employee somehow or had wronged him? Was he supposed to give him a tip? What was happening?
But before he could come to a solid conclusion, he heard his number announced and remembered the grumbling in his stomach. “Order Number 17!” screamed the same smirky employee and as he handed Daniel the bag, his expressions got even worst!
Exchanging a receipt
With the bag, he also handed Daniel a note. Of course, at the time he had assumed it was a receipt and crumbled it up inside the bag. It was only when he sat down to eat did he realize that this was no receipt.
Daniel Karmann/picture alliance via Getty Images
Instead, it was a note which said “Ugly Sweater” written just below Daniel’s name and order. What type of rude joke was this? Naturally, Daniel and his girlfriend were furious at the employee and at the whole interaction!
His Sweater
Daniel was wearing a very distinct sweater but no one had the right to comment on his clothing or appearance, let alone a stranger. He had thousands of questions but was afraid that he wasn’t going to be able to control his anger, Daniel decided to show his girlfriend to get her opinion.
He was deeply offended and wanted his feelings to be justified and of course, she was wholeheartedly with him. This was unacceptable on every level but she did try to calm Daniel down.
Calming Him Down
She tried to tell him that it was an off-hand comment which shouldn’t have that much weight on him and that the Chick-Fil-A employee was just some kid with a smart mouth and nothing else.
Thankfully, his girlfriend’s words helped and sooner than expected Danial was chuckling about the note. The couple did decide to leave the fast-food chain though and opted to eat in their car instead.
It Was No Ordinary Sweater
Daniel prided himself on being incredibly level-headed but the reason he felt so overcome with emotion about the note was that this “ugly” sweater actually held a lot of sentimental value for him.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
It was given to him by a close family member who had sadly now passed away. So, the comment about his sweater hit an already sore and sensitive spot. But regardless of all that, his girlfriend was right. He should forget about it.
Taking To Social Media
But of course, he couldn’t. And that he how Daniel made the viral post. He wanted to know what the public thought about what transpired at the fast-food chain and needed to know what was the socially acceptable response.
Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
We wonder if the employee who had written the note to Daniel had done so, had he known that the man wearing the “ugly sweater” actually had a large Twitter following and one single post could and did destroy his life.
Posting The Picture
Daniel took a picture of the receipt, with an explanation of what happened and the sentimentality behind his sweater. And as soon as he posted it, his phone started blowing up. It was an unexpected flood of responses.
Which only grew more intense by the minute. He had only expected his close friends to comment on such a personal tale but was caught off guard by getting opinions of people from around the world.
Onslaught of Messages
Daniel’s own phone was buzzing every second to the point that he couldn’t even use it to see what everyone was saying, he then logged into his Twitter account on his girlfriend’s phone too, so together, they could read through the onslaught of messages.
While scrolling through all of the messages, Daniel and his girlfriend couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Thousands of people were discussing and even debating the employee and his actions but not all of them were on Daniel’s side.
Differing Opinions
What was a black and white situation in Daniel and his girlfriend’s eyes were now turned into a social debate about Chick-Fil-A, fast food employees and giving general comments on people’s clothing?
While most were with Daniel that he should never have been given the note, others agreed that the sweater was indeed ugly! Incredibly, some people even went so far as to not only make fun of Daniel’s clothes but also his order!
His Portrayal
Somehow though, reading everyone’s comments and rather extreme opinions about the situation helped Daniel calm down and understand that he might have blown it out of proportion. It was a simple comment and nothing more.
Bettmann/Getty Images
But that wasn’t the story that everyone was talking about. Instead, they started making Daniel out to be a wronged man and portrayed him as enraged and offended. Referring to this attitude he tweeter “I was not outraged!!!! It was obviously a joke and all in good fun. Please fix this @DailyMail UK.”
An Unexpected Reply
The couple tried to use humour as a way to calm down the situation and just as it was working, they got an email from someone very unexpected. It was from Chick-Fil-A themselves.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Daniel had no idea how the company managed to get his email or how they even knew he existed! Clearly, his post had made huge waves! Inside the email, he was given a number to call to learn more about the situation and the employee.
A Mysterious Number
At that point, Daniel and his girlfriend were trying to put this entire situation behind them and of course, calling this number would do the exact opposite. He felt hesitant calling and wondered if talking to someone at Chick-Fil-A would only blow things out of proportion even further!
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyImages
But his curiosity got the best of him and after a few days of contemplation, he dialled the number which was for one of the managers at Chick-Fil-A. It seemed that the company was very keen on making amends for what happened to Daniel.
Free Food
The manager was very apologetic to Daniel and even offered him an almost lifetime supply of free food from Chick-Fil-A. And despite, Daniel said that there was no need for that and it was just a simple comment which didn’t mean anything.
Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images
The company was adamant about doing something to appease the situation and that is when the manager also told him that the employee who had given him the note had him fired, within the day!
Reason Behind The Note
But this wasn’t the news Daniel wanted or expected! He had all but forgiven the employee and what the manager said next, only made it worst. Apparently, the “note” which had been given to him was just a simple way for the employee to remember the order numbers!
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
And it was never meant to be seen. This was a common custom amongst fast-food restaurants to ensure that they provide each order to the right person! And was never done as a personal way to offend Daniel in any way!
Deep Regret
After hearing all that, the young man was left bereft of guilt. How could the company fire someone over a note? And he knew that he had played a huge, only part in this sad conclusion.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/GettyImages
Daniel immediately declined the free food and asked the manager if the employee could be hired back, insisting that it was the only way for him to be content but the manager told him that it was near impossible.
Careful
What was supposed to be a simple and innocent way for Daniel to offload some of his feelings resulted in a young person getting fired! And of course, the bad marketing because of the tweet was something the company took very seriously.
Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
This goes to show how a simple decision we make, can go ahead and change other people’s lives and also the power of social media which should always be used wisely and never as a way to vent, as you never know how big of an impact you can make.