The owner of a restaurant where patrons stand for the American national anthem has responded after a customer compared the practice to a ‘horror movie’.
A video of patrons standing while 'The Star-Spangled Banner' played inside a California recently went viral on TikTok.
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TikTok Paulina (@paulinappa_0) was dining at Rainbow Oaks restaurant in Fallbrook, Southern California, when the patriotic moment unfolded.
"This feels like a horror movie," one person commented. "Everyone stands up as soon as the music plays as you find yourself been the only person not standing.”
The owner of the restaurant has a lot to say about the reactions to the patriotic moment. She joined Fox News for an interview and called out those who criticised her business.
"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,” Jeanene Paulino told Fox & Friends hosts Todd Piro and Ashley Strohmier on Wednesday (May 3).
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“And I wish she realized that it's because those men and women who made those sacrifices that she was able to do that.”
Paulino, who has owned the restaurant for six years and said she inherited the national anthem practice from its previous owners, said she wishes people would recognise their freedom of speech and the fight to maintain it.
Each day at noon, patrons stand for the national anthem and Paulino said despite the backlash she’s proud to continue the tradition for the foreseeable future.
Paulino and the Fox news hosts took particular offence to the TikToker claiming that being in the restaurant when the national anthem started to play was the most ‘dangerous’ situation she has ever been in.
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The caption reads: “By far the most dangerous situation I've ever been in #godblessamerica #getout #illegal #whitepeoplethings".
It sounds like her customers are not bothered in slightest by ditching their pancakes for five minutes to give thanks as the queue to get into the restaurant around noon is usually 45 minutes long.
"I come from a long line of patriots, so I was thrilled to keep the tradition going. No, we won't be stopping," the restaurant owner declared.
Topics: US News, News, Food and Drink