Tall black woman triggers heated debate after complaining about 'racist' supermarket incident
A tall supermarket shopper triggered a heated debate after complaining on social media about an alleged 'racist' incident that occurred inside the store's produce isle.
Osha Cerese, of Georgia, has sparked a fervid debate on social media, after the 36-year-old woman took to X to complain about an 'offensive' incident that took place inside a supermarket.
Cerese, who is black, claimed she was 'minding my business' when a woman approached her, asking for assistance.
'"Can I get you to come do me a favor because you're tall?"' the tall woman posted on X, quoting the inquiring shopper.
'I looked at her with a straight face & said 'no, I'd rather you get someone who works here." She got assistance & when I tell you she would've wanted me to walk to the other side of the section to gather something from the top shelf for her.
'That is highly offensive to me. And yes she was and this is not the first time I've experienced this,' she added in the post.
The controversial post has since come under fire as actress Natalie Jean Beisner snapped back at Cerese's contentious post.
'I’m a tall girl who then wears heels on top of that. I’ve been approached numerous times to pull something off a top shelf. I always comply if I can get it. If I see someone struggling, I’ll usually offer without them asking,' Beisner wrote on X on Wednesday.
Osha Cerese, of Georgia, has sparked a fervid debate on social media, after the 36-year-old black woman took to X to complain about an 'offensive' incident that took place inside a supermarket
Cerese claimed she was 'minding my business' when a woman approached her, asking for assistance
'Black people need to get over themselves,' she added.
Cerese quickly replied, shutting down what she called Beisner's 'racist' accusations and claiming she was simply 'setting boundaries.'
'You're right. I'm kind. Not nice. I don't do anything I don't feel comfortable doing. I set boundaries. I understand that I have the right to say no. Bye,' the certified life coach replied.
Another user chimed in, questioning Cerese on her 'uncomfortable' feeling.
'How did that make you feel uncomfortable? What feeling did you have?' the user wrote in reply to Cerese's follow-up.
Cerese then urged the interrogating user to 'go watch the movie The Color Purple' - a 1985 film depicting the life of an African-American woman who survives incredible abuse and bigotry in the first half of the 20th century.
'When you're done, go ask some of your friends of African descent, if you have any, how they feel about this post, that movie, their experience in day to day life and ask them if there is any way you can help and support them,' she added.
Beisner, an actress featured in 2024's Blood Magick, added fuel to the fire claiming Cerese to be a 'race baiter' alleging the content creator purposely omitted the word 'white' from her initial post.
'It’s clear that the word missing at the bottom is “white,” as in “And yes she was WHITE.” You can tell by the fact she says she found it OFFENSIVE that the woman even asked for help in the first place, and from the rest of her comments and posts,' the Blood Magick actress wrote.
The controversial post has since come under fire as Natalie Jean Beisner snapped back at Cerese's contentious post
Natalie Jean Beisner is an actress and self-proclaimed 'sane person'
'This woman is a race baiter to the nth degree who needs to step outside her own bubble and realize this happens to white folks too.'
The long-winded dispute has since garnered attention as other users have fueled the supercharged online thread.
'So it’s “racist” to be a short white woman asking for help?' one user commented.
Another commented: 'I’ve also asked tall people if they could get something high too, joys of being 5 foot. They have always said yes & and we have a laugh about it. It has never occurred to me that someone would find something like that offensive. People need to touch grass.'
'I'm a six foot white man, I've been asked by older women to get things off shelves plenty of times. I've never said no. Because I'm not an a******,' another commented.
While some others have declared their support for Cerese's controversial encounter.
'My black sister is right!!! Who the hell approaches a stranger am the store for help? The audacity smh. I would be offended too!' one user commented.
'You bashing a whole race of people because of this one woman’s issues, speaks volumes about your character,' another said of Beisner's 'racist' accusations.
'When you say "black people need to get over themselves", that makes you a racist. Period,' another commented.
However, some users blamed the entire heated ordeal on the current, 'tense' climate seen in America today.
Cerese quickly replied, shutting down Beisner's 'racist' accusations claiming she was simply 'setting boundaries.' 'You're right. I'm kind. Not nice. I don't do anything I don't feel comfortable doing. I set boundaries. I understand that I have the right to say no. Bye,' the certified life coach replied
The long-winded dispute has since garnered attention as other users have fueled the supercharged online thread
Another commented: 'White people and black people obviously live in two different Americas. Yes the black lady has a right to feel some type of way especially with the way racial tensions are in America right now. It's not normal to just approach a stranger in a store to get help isles away.'
Another said: 'I’m tall. I have no problem with helping someone who asks me nicely. Or offering when I see the need. Sometimes it’s not even a height but a flexibility issue.
'Hypersensitive people feel the need to present their pervasive feeling of being offended as a strength. It is not. Weakness shines through, along with bad manners and a need to feel superior. It can happen to anyone.
'However, I will add that if an otherwise balanced person senses an ulterior motive or is uncomfortable with a request for help [in the present climate and obviously taking note of the individual] simply stating: "I would rather not" is cold but acceptable.'
