A former restaurant owner claims he had to close up shop and relocate after a spiteful customer spread false rumors about his eatery hosting a gay orgy.
42-year-old Sack Joulavong ran the Bai Tong Thai restaurant in the north Belfast neighborhood of Ardoyne in Northern Ireland.
In August, a man named Stephen Montgomery allegedly wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post that “some fella on Grindr” asked him to come to a place in the Ardoyne shopping district.
Montgomery allegedly claimed he rode a taxi over to the area when “a shutter of one of the chineses [sic] opened,” apparently mistaking Bai Tong for a Chinese eatery.
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“I went in the shutter closes behind me and when I tell you there was a full blown orgy going on in this Chinese I’m not even messing,” his claim continued. “Sheets on the floor the lot.”
“To say I’m traumatized is an understatement,” he allegedly added. “I was so uncomfortable & I was literally touched for a few times to which I told them to stop. I was called boring, stupid and a ‘waste of time’ all because I didn’t wanna be involved.”
Montgomery wrote that he was finally asked to leave before concluding “the moral of the story is if you find a hair in your salted chili chicken, that is infact a PUBE x.”
Oh, but it gets even cringier.
Montgomery reportedly stood by his claims in a series of follow-up posts, including one that contained a video of him supposedly leaving the restaurant while repeating the word “orgy.”
Joulavong denied the claims, and his version of events was much less scandalous and, frankly, a lot more believable.
He explained that last August, he renovated his restaurant for an upcoming health inspection, and so he invited a few friends to enjoy beers while the place was closed. One of his friends reportedly invited Montgomery, but Joulavong asked him to leave soon after he arrived since they were wrapping up drinks anyway.
“I don’t even know him, but I think he was a bit annoyed when I asked him to leave along with everyone else. I’m sorry if he was upset by that,” Joulavong said.
The restaurant owner has since said that he and his staff became overwhelmed by homophobic abuse as the hateful rumor spread.
People began calling the business asking about the claim and requesting oral sex. Joulavong tried keeping the business open, but he said customers started avoiding his eatery as the rumor gained traction, costing him thousands in sales.
He eventually closed the store and moved to be with his sister in London. He said customers still call his business’ old number to see if it’s still open.
“I have to keep telling them we’re closed, but maybe I’ll come back one day,” he told the Belfast Telegraph. “Why would I let people have sex in my shop? This is my business. That would be really stupid.”
“It’s very sad, but I think it was best for me to get away for a bit after what happened.”
Joulavong and Montgomery both reported the claim to the police. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
SDR94103
hello, I’d like to make a reservation.
gregg2010
And why do I believe Montgomery?
dbmcvey
Because you’re easily fooled.
bachy
Malicious gossip is the worst. You don’t realize it until you’re the victim.
storm45701
Pretty elaborate story to make up. Having an orgy or group sex after hours in any place is not unbelievable. A group of us gay staff had group sex at a public library I used to work at when I was younger, several times. The big question to ask if there’s any other witnesses or corroboration, or if Montgomery had a beef with the owner or employee.
barryaksarben
Homophobes lies are usually very precise in their fantastic fantasies about gay sex. They can get very specific as it may be what they really really want to happen. I dont believe Montgomery. IF he was gay he wouldn’t have been so shocked and if he isn’t why did he go to meet a man he didnt know? strange
dbmcvey
It’s not elaborate at all. It’s just from this one guy’s feverish imagination. And what does your library escapades have to do with anything?
RIGay
This is about the stupidest story I have ever read. You go after the idiot (Montgomery) for slander. Period.
gregg2010
I believe Montgomery because I’ve been to an after hours orgy in 1) a coffee shop, 2) a watch repair shop, and 3) a flower shop. I don’t think after hour orgies in businesses are THAT uncommon. Just sayin’.
dbmcvey
You believe Montgomery because you have had sex in various places? Your sexual history isn’t proof that it’s going on in this particular restaurant. You want to believe it but that doesn’t make it true. You’re easily led, just sayin.
calvinsmelliott
Montgomery went to the place after getting an invitation on Grindr. He knew what he was getting into…
dbmcvey
And then say “I’m so traumatized”, this is pretty hard to believe.
LeeLeeHelmsley
Why would Montgomery have an account with Grindr, which is for meeting up for sex, agreed to meet up with a stranger in a public place for sex and then be horrified because sex was supposedly happening at this place. His story doesn’t make any sense, so it’s not true! Montgomery needs to get a hobby.
dbmcvey
Then he clutches his pearls. I don’t believe it.
rand503
Sure gay orgies happen, and sometimes even in places of work. But no one writes about it later, especially not in disgust.
The telltale giveaway was the ‘stray hair in your soup is a pube.’ That is nothing but inflammatory and shows that Montgomery wanted to destroy the guys business. Which he did.
KellyRobinsonJr
I would eat at that restaurant anytime, and stay after hours…