A video circulating online has captured a tense confrontation at a nail salon, highlighting the challenges faced by immigrant business owners. In the clip, the salon owner, of Asian descent, confronts a black woman who tells him to “go back to your country.” In response, the owner reveals that he noticed her EBT card and pays for public assistance programs through his taxes, turning the insult back on her.
The Asian nail salon owner replied back, saying, “I saw your EBT card. I pay taxes for your food, and you tell me to go back to my country?”
The exchange quickly escalates, with both parties trading sharp words, drawing attention to the frustrations many immigrant entrepreneurs face when dealing with discrimination. Social media users have reacted strongly, sparking discussions about racism, economic contributions of immigrants, and the pressures on small business owners.
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Immigrants start nearly 24% of all new businesses, according to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Yet about two-thirds rely on personal or family savings rather than institutional loans, often due to lack of collateral or access to traditional financing. Despite these hurdles, they own roughly 18% of employer firms and nearly 23% of solo enterprises, highlighting their vital role in the economy. For entrepreneurs like the Asian American salon owner, this financial and social pressure is compounded by discrimination, as the viral confrontation illustrates.
One of the users commented in that post, “Bro that nail salon owner didn’t even clap back, he obliterated her with straight reality because when someone pulls the ‘go back to your country’ card while literally paying with a government benefits card, they walk into that L with their chin up like they’re begging for a verbal knockout. And he delivered it clean. This wasn’t about race, this was about entitlement meeting accountability and getting folded in half.”
“Dude spent years paying taxes, grinding, building a business from the ground up, and he finally snapped because he’s tired of being disrespected by people who contribute nothing but attitude. That wasn’t racism, that was pure American immigrant frustration boiling over after being told by someone who lives on taxpayer money to ‘go back.’ He didn’t insult her identity, he exposed her hypocrisy. And the reason the clip is going viral is simple, millions of hardworking people—immigrants, natives, every background—are feeling that exact same fatigue. This is what happens when the wrong person tries the wrong insult on the wrong dude with the right facts,” the user added.
The salon owner’s sharp response wasn’t just a personal comeback; it highlights the very real economic and social pressures many immigrant entrepreneurs face. Despite being vital contributors to the economy and public systems, they often struggle to access fair financing and navigate systemic challenges. The story also reflects a wider reality for other marginalized business owners, including Black women, who frequently have to self-fund their ventures, face discriminatory lending practices, and overcome persistent stereotypes while building their businesses.