Islamabad restaurant owners mock manager’s English
Because they were 'bored'
Screenshot: Video
A video of two restaurant owners in Islamabad making fun of their manager’s English has been doing the rounds on social media.
The video opens with a woman named Uzma and her friend Dia, who decide to introduce the audience to their restaurant Cannoli’s staff because they are “bored”.
“Awais,” calls Uzma, and the camera pans to a suit-clad man who nervously says “Hi”.
“He’s our manager,” she says. “Dia, would you like to ask him a few questions?”
“How long have you been working for us?” Dia asks.
“For the last nine years,” Awais answers.
Dia adds that Awais was one of their first hires when they opened their cafe. When asked how many classes he took for English, Awais says he took three classes and each class spanned six months.
Just got sent this. Sick to my stomach. No words for our eNgLisH fLueNt elites. Never seen more tone deaf women with this confidence. pic.twitter.com/5eIj9hWOnZ
— N✨ (@__Dragunov) January 20, 2021
As soon as the video went viral on Twitter, many users came forward to show their support for Awais and condemned his employers’ insensitive act.
Colonial hangover is a truly disgusting feature of South Asian elites & don’t let anyone try to deny it https://t.co/2Wit9CBLnw
— Mirza Sahib مِرزا صاحب (@MirzaSahib72) January 20, 2021
A user shared the restaurant’s menu marked with mistakes like “Siracha (Sriracha)”, “caramalised (caramelised)” among others, and remarked if Owais had written the menu, too.
Another said that the existence of people like Uzma and Dia is a “tragedy” for society.
I know Ivy League/Oxbridge grads who are totally courteous and respectful with everyone. It’s a tragedy that these kind of people exist in our societies. Having money and power steers the direction in which a person behaves.
— Hassan Khan (@mhassankhan06) January 20, 2021
Shahbaz Taseer, who requested his followers to help him find Awais’ number, said he spoke to him and offered him a post at his company.
Just spoke to Awais. He’s in high spirits and was very professional. We have made him an offer let’s see ❤️
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) January 21, 2021
Later, team Cannoli defended itself in an Instagram post and said the people “misconstrued their banter with a team member”.
They said they don’t need to prove that they are “kind employers”.
3 Comments
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Dear Pakistani Owners of Cannoli Ms. Uzma and Ms. DiaI hope this letter finds in you in the best of health and you are keeping well. Despite being from Karachi and never had the opportunity to dine in the restaurant you own, I happened to have heard very good reviews from my friends who frequent your establishment. I would like to congratulate you for this achievement and would like to further remind you that your ability to converse in english with a fake accent had nothing to do with the receiving of such accolades and the gentleman, who manages the restaurant, you so flamboyantly mocked for not having command on the English language is responsible along with the team he supervises. Kudos to him and his hardworking team. The people of Pakistan have spoken and have absolutely all the respect for this gentleman that he truly deserves despite him unable to comprehend in English with fluency.I would just like to remind you that having command on the language does not guarantee that you both are civilized and educated or deserve to be owners of that restaurant or let alone be categorised as humans. I would like you to come face to reality that you both have discovered a whole new level of “low”. Your despicable behavior has been categorised below other verbal indicators like rock bottom, scum, douchebags, … etc., So because of my unfaltering respect to woman kind I would just avoid using abusive language and insulting you two for being such horrendous people. Seriously, consider apologising to the people of Pakistan and to your awesome team. My email to them! #boycottcannoli
Kalay Angraiz. These types of women should be well aware that whatever British/American accent they use; once they are in the West then the 1st thing the Goras will see is the skin color & no matter what, these women cannot change that & they will remain the 2nd or a 3rd-grade citizen. These so-called “ladies” are a disgrace to Pakistan. They can get English speaking waiters and managers in the US or UK; if they can afford it? Otherwise, they themselves will be the maids, cooks, and servers. Shame on them. Salute to Owais who shows that he has manners unlike these two witches.
Don’t think they meant to say the manager was inferior because of his English language skills. I think it was just a plain banter which has been taken far away from what was intended.