A pizzeria owner in Italy is facing backlash after hurling insults at a group of tourists over their dinner order.
The incident, recorded by the owner himself, took place in Montecatini Terme, a town in Tuscany.
A group of sixteen Taiwanese tourists arrived at the restaurant, Pizza dal Pazzo, at 8 p.m. in early November.
Unlike the common dining custom in Italy, where customers typically order one thin-crust pizza per person, the group ordered five pizzas and three glasses of beer to share.
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Frustrated by the order, the restaurant owner began live-streaming the tourists as they ate, later posting the video on Instagram to humiliate them, as per SCMP.
The unsuspecting tourists smiled at the owner, acting friendly and giving him thumbs-up and peace signs.
But little did they know that the owner was insulting them in his mother tongue throughout the video.
Image credits: Louis Hansel / unsplash (not the actual photo)
“Get out of here. I don’t care about you,” he reportedly told the group, adding that he was “angry” with them.
“There are 16 people, but they only ordered five pizzas and three beers. They are ridiculous! This is too much,” the owner fumed.
The restaurant owner live-streamed the group of sixteen tourists after they ordered five pizzas
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The owner later posted a complaint online, saying he had been “driven to rock bottom by the tourists,” as per Chinese outlet Ettoday.
His treatment of the group was met with sharp criticism online, particularly from Taiwanese and Chinese nationals living in Italy.
Many accused the owner of xenophobia, noting that the restaurant had no minimum-spend rule and that sharing dishes is common in Asian culture.
“Cultural differences are not an excuse for bullying,” wrote one netizen.
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“As an Italian, I feel ashamed, he does not speak for the rest of Italian people,” one user expressed.
“I’m not from Taiwan but I’ll avoid this place like a plague,” added another.
“These people are elderly people who have come from afar. Didn’t his mother teach him to respect the elderly and care for the young?” wrote an additional user.
He reportedly insulted the group and called them “ridiculous”
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Many others said they would also order a pizza to share. “As a person with small appetite I had this same problem in Italy.”
The video not only went viral on Chinese and Taiwanese social media, but it was also the subject of extensive coverage on Taiwanese television.
Following the incident, the owner reportedly deleted the video and issued an apology in an attempt to remedy the situation.
Some of the tourists smiled, unaware that they were being mocked
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“I would like to apologize to the tourists from Taiwan. We Italians are very playful people,” he said on November 14.
“You are wonderful people. I love China. I love Taiwan,” he continued, explaining that he had visited China.
According to Italian outlet La Nazione, the eatery owner has been identified as Patrizio Pazzini, the older brother of Giampaolo Pazzini, a retired Serie A footballer.
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According to the blogger, the owner nodded and accepted the order, after which the tour guide booked the table for the group.
In Italy, most people order a thin-crust pizza to eat individually
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Even Montecatini Mayor Claudio Del Rosso weighed in on the matter, according to La Nazione, saying Pazzini had likely posted the video for social media popularity.
“We all know the protagonist of this video in the city and we know he’s someone who can joke around in any situation and with anyone,” Del Rosso stated.
“I’m certain he had no intention of offending anyone, but simply—albeit very wrongly—the desire to post a video on social media to attract some likes.
“He’s anything but a bad or racist person. He made a mistake, a serious one at that. His behavior is absolutely wrong, and he owes an apology.”
The mayor intends to personally apologize to the representatives of the countries involved.
“This incident represents neither the city nor the people of Montecatini. This person has made a gross mistake, for which he is fully apologizing.
“For my part, as mayor, I will invite the diplomatic representatives of the countries involved in this affair to a meeting and to renew our spirit of hospitality.”
Montecatini Terme is known for its thermal waters, which have made it a top wellness destination in Tuscany and one of the “Great Spa Towns of Europe,” as recognized by UNESCO.
“Boss is simply discriminating against Asians,” one reader commented
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