Man ‘fat shamed in Chinese restaurant by manager who rubbed his belly, called him massive and asked customers to take a photo of them both’
Diner Scott Chapman, 23, says manager relentlessly taunted him at Jumbo Chinese Buffet in Hartlepool, Durham
A DINER says he was fat shamed by a restaurant manager who rubbed his belly and asked for a selfie.
"Crushed" Scott Chapman claims he was called a "massive guy" by the boss of a Chinese restaurant.
The 6ft 6in housing support officer visited Jumbo Chinese Buffet restaurant in Hartlepool, Durham on Tuesday with a pal.
But he was left mortified when the manager allegedly referred to his weight and called him "massive".
Scott, 23, claims the man was showing customers to a table near him when he said: "You are too big, You are massive. Nobody can get past you".
Scott added: "I looked at him and said 'really?' and he just walked off. I turned to my mate and said 'has he really just referred to me as massive? I was in shock.
"My friend said 'he definitely just called you massive'. I couldn't believe it.
"One of the waitresses came back over and I said to her 'is that guy always that rude?'
"She was also in shock and asked me if I wanted to speak to him. I said no but asked her to tell him we were upset about the way he made a reference to my weight.
"We were ready to leave but we had started eating by that point and had our drinks so we decided to brush it off thinking he wouldn't have the thought to say it again."
But the manager allegedly returned to tell the waitress off for seating them in the area — and even began rubbing his belly.
Scott added: "He said 'well you are massive. You are a big guy'.
"I was like 'you're seriously still going on like this? And my pal was like 'yep he is still calling you massive'. He came back over to reiterate what he had already said.
"I could not believe what he was saying. I have never heard anybody insult anyone like that. It was beyond belief."
"I said to him if he did not get off my stomach I would move him off... I couldn't believe he was insulting me and then rubbing my stomach.
"He disappeared and I thought he had gone to hang his head in shame but then he came back with a phone.
"He said to one customer 'can you take a photo with massive man?' and the customer said 'no way he was not getting involved in it'.
"When they said no he tried to take a selfie. He had his finger over the camera button and I said 'if you take that photo I will take that phone off you.'
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"He kept calling me massive guy – which is like the worst superhero name ever.
"It was absolutely crushing to be fair. It takes a lot for me to go out as it is. I suffer badly with anxiety and depression anyway."
Scott, who paid for the meal and does not want the manager to be sacked, added: "It has gutted me. I'm a strong person and take a lot of things on the chin but it has got to me."
A spokesman for the restaurant said the manager was not available but apologised to Scott.
He said: "We are so sorry about that and we would like to meet Mr Chapman to say sorry face to face and offer him a free meal."
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