A woman's trip to a Californian restaurant quickly turned uneasy when every customer and staff member suddenly paused to stand for the national anthem.
After filming a brief video of the incident, she shared it to TikTok, only for viewers from outside of the States to be just as horrified as she was:
The video, filmed at Rainbow Oaks Restaurant in Southern California, was jokingly captioned: "By far the most dangerous situation I've ever been in #godblessamerica #getout #illegal #whitepeoplethings".
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Rainbow Oaks Restaurant, described as a 'lodge-like eatery offering breakfast all day and night,' famously plays the American national anthem on a daily basis - a tradition that TikToker Paulina (@paulinappa_0) knew nothing about.
While everyone around her stood still with their right hands on their hearts, Paulina and her friend stayed sitting with their pancakes.
In the comment section, TikTok users were just as shocked as she was.
"Like who does that in the middle of lunch?" asked one viewer.
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"This feels like a horror movie," another user commented. "Everyone stands up as soon as the music plays as you find yourself been the only person not standing."
And a third wondered: "Was it like for a reason? Or did it just start playing randomly and they all got up on reflex?? Wild."
In particular, people from outside of the US couldn't believe how hardcore Americans were for their national anthem.
One viewer, who said they were from Australia, wrote: "Whaaaat?? So freaky. We play ours at the Olympics and ANZAC Day and that's pretty much it."
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A second noted: "In Spain we don't even hear the national anthem that much, so this would 100% freak me out so much."
Even some Americans were a little put off by the video.
But most were in the comment section defending their love of the national anthem and inviting anyone who didn't like it to 'leave this country'.
"Yeah I can see how dangerous this is. Everybody respecting the flag and not paying any attention to you whatsoever. How did you survive?" one viewer snarked.
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Another argued: "We are Americans and that's what Americans do is respect our flag and honor the men and women who have fought for YOUR freedom. Have a little respect."
Since the video went viral, the owner of Rainbow Oaks, Jeanene Paulino has responded to the backlash, and assured people that she has no plans to stop the tradition.
"I come from a long line of patriots, so I was thrilled to keep the tradition going. No, we won't be stopping," she told Fox & Friends First.
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She added: "I feel like, if we take a few minutes out of our day to be grateful for the men and women who have made the sacrifices so that we can stand up and say how we feel and she said how she felt.
"And I wish she realised that it's because those men and women who made those sacrifices that she was able to do that."
Topics: TikTok, US News, Weird, Viral