Hundreds of people pitched in to surprise a server from Wisconsin with a $4,500 tip after they received a homophobic note from a nasty customer.
On Monday, Eric Salzwedel started the #VenmoChallenge after he said his friend, who works as a server at a restaurant in downtown Madison, was stiffed by a homophobic customer.
A receipt showed that on the $142 bill, rather than leave a tip, the customer wrote, “Service was good but we don’t tip sinful homosexuals.”
“This really upset me that someone would do something like this,” Salzwedel tells local media. “To go to the extent of saying it was good service, but because of their sexual orientation, they decided not to give them a tip.”
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Salzwedel shared a picture of the receipt on Facebook asking for donations so he could surprise his friend with the tip they deserved.
“Seeing this receipt, I immediately wanted to do another #VenmoChallenge, specifically for the reason to show there is more love than hate in this world and to life their spirits,” Salzwedel says.
More than 250 people chipped in, raising over $4,500 for Salzwedel’s friend within 36 hours.
“On Tuesday evening we were able to surprise the server with the tip and to let them know that people love them for who they are and to not listen to those who just want to spread hate onto others,” Salzwedel says. “As you may expect they were surprised from the tip and extremely grateful.”
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
tjack47
It’s not a shock that sinful was misspelled.
CatholicXXX
This “homophobic” messages pop up every now and then with people giving money to the recipient of the message.
Easy to replicate and con people.
CityguyUSA
I couldn’t get past t : backwards c.
lakawak
Yeah…the waiter that faked this story so gullible morons online would believe them, probably doesn’t have much education. Which is why they are a waiter. (I mean, you DO realize this is bullshit, just like 99% of all other receipt stories, don’t you?)
Mack
Just another “Christian” who doesn’t follow the words of Christ. They’re part of the Hate Sect.
lakawak
Perhaps if you stayed in school past 5th grade, you would have the intelligence and common sense to see an obvious fake story like this. But sadly, you didn’t. So you don’t’. And can’t.
Fahd
Kudos to Mr . Salzwedel for turning such a negative situation around. He should be promoted. As for the non-tippers, I hope the manager refuses them service in the future, and then in due course, I hope St. Peter refuses them admission at the pearly gates of Heaven.
Openminded
If only the server could explain to these patrons that the whole kitchen staff who prepared their meal are gay also. If you are going to be that high and mighty, how do you justify eating a meal that has, without a doubt, been provided in some fashion by someone who is not hetero? From the gay farmers, gay truckers, gay everybodies, somebody who helped supply the meal undoubtedly was gay.
CatholicXXX
He should’ve told the server to hold the aids.
jorgecruz
Catholic XXX is going to throw stones? Ask your local preschool if they would rather have a catholic priest or a gay waiter babysit their children.
FridM
Catholics are pedophiles. It’s in their DNA. What a Cluster F**K of a religion!!!
lakawak
I am AMAZED that you typed that is if this was real when literally 90% at least of these receipt stories have been proven to be fake.
belugafan
This scam happens all the time – why do people keep falling for it. This did not happen, they are just trying for sympathy money and they got it from gullible people.
lakawak
They got nothing. The tip receipt is also fake.
PerhapsYesNoMaybe
Really inspires a person to preserve religious sites. /s
Hank31
I’m not saying that this is a hoax, but it is nearly identical to a hoax perpetrated by a lesbian waitress in New Jersey several years ago. In that case, as I recall, the story went viral and the customer recognized the photo of his receipt and came forward with his copy to refute the claim that he had written a homophobic note. At that point, the story collapsed. That’s not to say that this time it couldn’t be legit, but at the very least, we should approach stories like this with some caution, especially since he wasted no time in rushing to Venmo to cash in.
mailliw110
Every person who gives to a charity has blind faith that the money will be used accordingly. This is no different.
JayJayBinks
Why is there so much hate going around? Or is the media fixating on it and there is way more love. Kudos to the friend who stepped in and turned a bad story around. ??
lakawak
This is fake. Obviously so. Don’t be so gullible.
lakawak
People don’t really still believe that fake receipt stories anymore, do they?