‘Piece of scum’: New Jersey woman asks deli worker to toast her bagel. Then he allegedly calls her a ‘hyena.’ Here’s why she thinks it happened

‘I definitely won’t be back there AT ALL.’

A New Jersey woman accuses a deli worker of racism. A viral video details the allegation and the internet response.

TikTok creator Dee (@ariellajael) posted a video that shows the aftermath of the alleged experience. Dee is inside a bagel shop recording two of the employees behind the counter. 

“TikTok, help me find this racist piece of scum right here,” she says, referring to one of the men.

What happened? She explains, “I mistakenly forgot to tell him I wanted my bagel to be toasted. He got so angry he done called me a mother[expletive] and a hyena.”

The two men stare at the camera. “And yup, that is the store manager who did not even try to correct his worker,” she says, before leaving the establishment. “This is Hot Bagels on Teaneck Road in Bergen County, New Jersey.”

What Happened in This New Jersey Bagel Shop?

In the comments section of the video, a segment of viewers immediately mobilized to attack the business via online review due to the woman’s claim. Other people expressed skepticism about whether that should happen without proof. Another group of people said they believe Dee’s version of events.

“People really expect us to listen to people with zero proof,” said one viewer.

“Anytime you don’t get the audio and just the video, you know there is audio OP doesn’t want you to hear,” a second person said. 

“These comments aren’t it,” a third person said. “I believe and stand with you, sis. I’m sorry this happened.”

Others said they were shocked to hear about an experience like this happening at this particular bagel shop. “Been going there for years [and] they have always been good,” one wrote. “When my sister was sick and no longer able to come, they always sent her bagel with me for free.”

Dee replied, “I’m glad he cares about your family. This was my experience, though.”

Residents Consider Teaneck Road Hot Bagels Among the Best

Just last summer, Fodor’s Travel named Bergen County’s Teaneck Road Hot Bagels as one of the top 15 bagel shops in the entire country. According to its webpage, the kosher bagel shop was established in 1993.

A look at the shop’s Yelp page does show several one-star reviews that appear prompted by Dee’s video. However, several reviews from before this incident mention spotty customer service and sanitation concerns. One review from Mary back on July 4, 2018, describes a similar experience.

“This is usually my favorite place to get breakfast,” wrote Mary, who is also a woman of color. “But today (and recently to be honest), I’ve been feeling a way about how they’ve been treating me.”

Mary wrote, “For example, it’s a holiday and I’m sure they want to go home. But they served a couple who I saw leave the store as I was parking. The owner’s son looked at me as I exited my car and locked their front door. Is this how it felt in the pre-Civil Rights Movement South when Blacks were told to sit in the back of the bus? That’s the way it made me feel.”

Another review from 2014 describes an employee that they referred to as an “angry man.”

AllHipHop contacted Dee via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We called Teaneck Hot Bagels and sent an Instagram direct message for comment. This story will be updated with any responses.

@ariellajael #fyp #explore #bergencounty #teaneckroadhotbagels ♬ original sound – Dee

Related