A Nigerian woman identified as @user6119812239816 on TikTok has shared the culture-shock experience that she says cost her a job in the United Kingdom.
In a video recounting the incident, she explained that a female colleague had just returned from leave, and in what she believed was a warm compliment, common in Nigerian culture, she told the colleague she looked good and had “added some weight.”
According to her, the remark, which would typically be considered friendly back home, left the colleague in tears. The colleague subsequently reported the comment to management, who interpreted it as body-shaming.
She said a meeting was held where she was heavily criticised for “calling someone fat,” and her attempts to explain that it was meant positively were dismissed. She was instructed to go home while a decision was made about her employment.
The lady said she never returned, concluding that the company would ultimately sack her.
Her words …
“In my previous video yesterday, I told you guys that I will tell you a story on how I got sacked as a result of complimenting my colleague in my place of work… “Imagine someone came back from leave and I complimented her that, “Oh, she’s looking good…That, oh, she has added some weight.” Do you know that they tagged it another thing, body shaming? Do you know that this lady, she started crying before I could know it, eh, she has already reported me to the management.
“They called a meeting. No, no, be small matter. They called a meeting and were asking me why will I tell someone that someone is fat? Oh my god, I was so devastated. I was so angry. I was explaining to these people, I said, please, in my country, hmm, this is a mere compliment. “Telling someone that you’re looking good. You have, you’ve added some weight. These people, no gree hear me o. Na so these people say, make I, they go house, say, until they decide I go come back. But me, I know, say na sack. So make you dey see am. Make you dey see the cultural differences. The difference of culture.”
See Reactions Below:
@Dorathy D✝️😍❤️: Nne that is not compliment. Even in Nigeria 🇳🇬 if you tell me that I added weight I will see it as a bully
@Joey ➰: Y’all gone learn to stop commenting on other peoples bodies
@Timsbaby: Telling someone they’ve added weight is not a compliment
@𝑮𝒃𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒌𝒆 ♡: Well, a white colleague I hadn’t seen in a while told me I’d lost weight and even asked if it was intentional, and I didn’t take any offense to it.
@VibeNet 🇬🇧: Anything wey pass good morning, hi, you alright , uninvolve me
@Queenie: maybe you are still new in the UK. even i have formed the habit not talking to anyone at work including Africans.. my highest greetings is ” HIYA”
@KaydeeA: anything wey pass talk about weather, e no concern me
Watch video below …
Published by Ejoh Caleb
