There’s an assumption that if a man approaches a woman in a public space, she should be safe to decline his unwanted attention. But Sid (@lavendermilftea) recalled her harrowing experience on TikTok. It happened at Gold Coast, Chicago, all because a man couldn’t take “no” for an answer. If it weren’t for the help of Maple & Ash employees, Sid’s story might have had a different ending.
Her video is dated May 28th, and the incident occurred sometime in the afternoon near Maple & Ash—a fine dining steakhouse. Sid said she went out to make a smoothie video in Whole Foods. As she was walking by the street, a man told her that she was beautiful. She dismissed the comment because, unfortunately, Sid said she was used to being catcalled.
Sid told him, ‘Thank you,’ as a nicety—she feared being beaten up. But instead of leaving her alone after, he stepped in front of her and insisted on getting her number. He’s got so close to Sid that she was backed into the pole.
A strange man who doesn’t know what “no” means
She tried reasoning with him and told the strange man that she already has a boyfriend. Still, the man didn’t budge. He insisted, “It’s fine. We could just be friends.”…