Woman Is Accused of ‘Fat Shaming’ After Saying She’s ‘Fed Up’ with Splitting Restaurant Bills with Her ‘Larger’ Friends
Friends paying in a restaurant (stock photo). Credit : Getty
A woman has sparked online debate after saying she’s “fed up” with splitting restaurant bills evenly with friends who tend to order more food than she does — prompting some to accuse her of “fat-shaming.”
The discussion began on Mumsnet’s Am I Being Unreasonable? forum, where the woman shared her frustration over dining out with her group of four friends. She explained that while they typically divide the bill equally, two of her friends — whom she described as “larger ladies” — often order extra food or drinks, leaving her feeling like she’s paying more than her fair share.
“There are four of us in our friendship group, and we go out for dinner every other month or so, splitting the bill equally between us,” she wrote. “A couple of my friends are larger ladies and they often order slightly more food than I and another friend.”
With restaurant prices climbing, the woman said she’s become increasingly frustrated at having to cover costs for food she didn’t eat. “With prices having risen sharply, we are now noticing the cost of things more closely and starting to feel a bit aggrieved that we are paying for food we aren’t eating,” she said.
She added that she plans to suggest everyone simply pay for what they order next time — though she worries the idea could create tension. “I think it will be obvious why that suggestion is being made,” she admitted.
Commenters urged her to be tactful, saying it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for separate checks but unwise to frame it around her friends’ body size or eating habits.
“No need for the fat-shaming,” one person replied. “As the cost of eating out has increased, it’s a reasonable suggestion that each person pays for their own meal.”
Another added, “It’s fine to just pay for what you eat. I wouldn’t expect my choices to be subsidized by my friends.”
Others pointed out that drinks often drive the total cost higher than food. “It’s actually the alcohol that runs the bill up,” one commenter noted. “She should consider that, too, when ordering next time.”
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