Guy notices a young woman being followed at the mall — what he did probably saved her life
Most of the victims of stalking are women, and their experiences go beyond the digital world as they're often followed in the streets, on public transport, and even at Walmart stores. It’s a deeply unsettling experience that leaves them feeling vulnerable and always on the edge. As a result, many women develop self-defense strategies. But the onus of fighting for their safety can't be on women alone and men have a responsibility in society to stop this menace. When TikTok user @thebrandonrobert witnessed a young woman at the mall being persistently stalked by a man who seemed completely unaware of her discomfort, he knew he had to step in.
Brandon captured the moment in a viral TikTok video where he said, "There is this weird man making this girl uncomfortable in the store. I am going to pretend I know her." As reported by BuzzFeed, Brandon approached the girl confidently and slightly lowered his mask so that she could see his face. He pretended that they had met before and greeted her as if they were old friends. She recognized the behavior instantly and responded as though they were friends. When Brandon asked about the man beside her, she mumbled something that wasn't clear, making it obvious she had no idea who he was. Sensing her distress, Brandon smoothly added that his aunt was also at the mall, taking the situation in a safer direction.
Playing along, the woman asked if he was referring to Aunt Claire before they moved towards their imaginary relative. As soon as they walked away from the stalker, she turned to Brandon and expressed her sincere gratitude. Many people in the comment section are now praising Brandon and urging more guys to step up in such circumstances. One TikTok user, @userpleasecrytoyourmama, commented, “On her behalf, thank you so much, may thy universe give you all your heart desires, brooo. I know it may seem little to others, but it's everything.”
Another person, who goes by the username @mlj_14110_, suggested, “Always carry pepper spray, girls I carry it, and so glad I did the other day. I was being followed in Walmart thank you for looking out for her.” Similarly, @jamesnotjames chimed in and wrote, “How many times I’ve done that for someone! I’m always down to be a pretend BF to get someone out of a situation like that!” User @alaskalott, commented, “I wish more men did this, you have no idea how important what you just did is. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
While it would be ideal if women never found themselves in these situations, to begin with, there’s so much more that can be done to support them than just avoiding creepy behavior. Since that’s not likely to change anytime soon, it would be encouraging if men who aren’t part of the problem took the initiative to help when they see women being harassed by others. If you’re benefiting from male privilege, why not use it to make a positive difference? Unfortunately, despite living in the 21st century, women continue to face unsettling, inappropriate, and harmful actions from men every day. It’s crucial to encourage one another, celebrate each other’s achievements, and stand together in addressing the challenges women face.