Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Racial profiling remains a serious issue, impacting countless people in everyday situations—including something as simple as shopping for a car. A TikTok user, @ta.mia.a, recently shared her frustrating experience at a BMW dealership where a salesman refused to let her test drive a car, despite her being prepared to pay cash for it. Instead of backing down, she decided to take her business elsewhere—and her response quickly went viral.

Her video, which has over a million views, struck a chord with many people who have faced similar treatment. The text overlay read:


"POV: I was gonna buy this car with cash today, but the salesman was being rude."

Denied a test drive for no clear reason

In the TikTok video, Tamiaa shows the interior of the BMW she was interested in purchasing—a sleek, luxury car with touchscreen controls, leather seats, and multiple driving modes. She was clearly excited about the car but revealed her disappointment soon after.

Screens from a video posted to TikTok. Tamiaa posted her story of profiling at a major car dealership. TikTok | @ta.mia.a

"I'm not gonna buy from here 'cause the [salesman] was being rude as f**k," she said.

What pushed her to this decision? The dealership refused to let her test drive the car unless she completed an application—something she didn’t see anyone else being asked to do.

"You can't take it on a test drive if you're not doing the application."

Suspicious of this unnecessary hurdle, she chose not to go through with the purchase. Even though she had the money ready, she refused to give her business to someone who treated her with disrespect.

Social media backs her decision

People in the comments section of her video were quick to call out the salesman’s behavior, with many suspecting racial profiling.

@purrlianna commented, "They definitely let you test drive without an application unless it's new and they have low inventory. He was profiling you, most definitely."

@yera_rb shared a similar experience, writing, "This happened to me at Toyota like your loss."

Another user, @northernchill12, related to Tamiaa’s reaction, saying:

"A rude salesperson will talk me out of buying every time."

Many people praised Tamiaa for refusing to reward poor service and bias with her business.

A larger pattern of discrimination

Unfortunately, racial profiling in customer service isn’t new. Similar stories have made headlines, like the case of two Black women accused of shoplifting at a TJ Maxx without evidence. A police officer confronted them, demanding proof of purchase and even attempting to search their car. When they stood their ground and recorded the encounter, it became clear how easily baseless accusations can escalate.

These experiences highlight why many Black consumers often feel scrutinized or mistreated in retail and sales settings. But as Tamiaa’s story shows, one powerful response is to take your money elsewhere—because respect should never be optional.

If you want to follow more of her content, check out @ta.mia.a on TikTok.

More For You

Boss bans overtime, then begs employee to stay when chaos erupts
Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Andrea Piacquadio; Reddit | u/runnerdan

Boss bans overtime, then begs employee to stay when chaos erupts

Workplace rules are meant to streamline operations, but when poor management decisions clash with reality, the results can be disastrous.

A Reddit user, u/runnerdan, shared how a strict new policy against overtime led them to walk out mid-crisis, forcing management to scramble for a solution.

Keep ReadingShow less
Man cancels wedding after fiancée refuses to include his daughter
Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | TranStudios Photography & Video; Reddit | u/whoevenisthat5

Man cancels wedding after fiancée refuses to include his daughter

A wedding is supposed to be a celebration of love and family, but for one man, it became the breaking point in his relationship. Reddit user u/whoevenisthat5 shared how he was forced to call off his engagement after his fiancée refused to include his 11-year-old daughter in their wedding.

At first, he thought it was just a disagreement over wedding roles—but when he found out her real reason for wanting to leave his daughter out, he realized there was no future for them.

Keep ReadingShow less

Woman kidnapped and trapped—until two teens noticed her silent cry for help

With global challenges on the rise, being vigilant about our surroundings has become crucial. Often, even the most subtle signs can indicate someone in need or serve as an important warning.

Two observant teenagers demonstrated this when they saved a woman’s life a decade ago. Aaron Arias, then 19, and Jamal Harris, then 17, were driving through Dallas, Texas to pick up a friend when they spotted a young woman in the backseat of a nearby car. Harris, from the passenger seat, noticed the woman and thought she was "attractive." To their astonishment, she seemed to be mouthing words at them. According to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, Harris quickly understood that she was asking for help.

Keep ReadingShow less
The receptionist at a hotel.

She is happy to help, if what you ask for is possible.

Entitled hotel guest refuses to accept reality, so employee takes her on a wild ride

It has been said that the customer is always right, but customers always seem determined to be the exception. Front desk workers deal with all kinds of guests, from the polite and understanding to the entitled and irrational. While most complaints are routine, some customers take things to an entirely new level. One hotel receptionist shared a particularly absurd encounter on Reddit’s r/MaliciousCompliance, detailing how a guest insisted she had a reservation for a floor that didn’t even exist—and demanded to be taken there.

A guest insists on a nonexistent reservation

The Reddit user, whose post has since been deleted, explained that they worked at a hotel that used to be a Days Inn. The hotel only had three floors, and reservations were only taken at the front desk—there were no online or third-party bookings. On a busy weekend when the hotel was fully booked, an elevator went out of service, making things even more chaotic for the staff.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton | Alex G | Flickr

Unearthed Eric Clapton interview reveals devastating details that inspired "Tears in Heaven"

British rocker Eric Clapton has had a plethora of hits over his long music career. But one of his most famous songs, "Tears in Heaven", is getting an in-depth look in the musician's new film special, Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later. (The 90-minute film will be released on Paramount+ on Feb. 12.)

It centers on Clapton's iconic MTV Unplugged set from 1992, where he performed an acoustic version of “Tears in Heaven.” And in a newly resurfaced interview for the special, he dives more into the heartbreaking background story to the song's lyrics that were inspired by his son Conor's death and subsequent grief journey.

Keep ReadingShow less