‘Vile’: Woman confronts alleged racist in busy Sydney shopping centre

A Sydney woman has called out the “vile” racism she was allegedly subject to during an encounter at her local shopping centre.

A Sydney woman has called out the “vile” racism she was allegedly subject to during an encounter at her local shopping centre.

In a video on TikTok that garnered more than 33,000 views, Sara (who posts under the handle @saralipservice) recounted the incident, which took place last Friday at East Village Shopping Centre in Zetland, in the city’s inner south.

“As I walked from the car park up the escalators and entered the shopping centre, a man came up to me and angrily said in my ear, ‘Go back to effing Asia’ – but the non-censored version of that,” the 38-year-old said.

“Now, it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been on the receiving end of such overt racism, and I still very much have a zero-tolerance policy on this kind of behaviour.”

Sara said she “immediately and very loudly called him out on his vile racism” as he walked into a fruit and vegetable store at the centre.

Sydney woman Sara alleges she was racially abused at a Zetland shopping centre. Picture: Instagram/@saralipservice

‘It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been on the receiving end of such overt racism.’ Picture: Instagram/@saralipservice

While she would “not advise anyone else to do” what she did next “because it can be quite risky”, Sara followed the man into the shop and confronted him again.

“I do have a bit of a short fuse, I’m an eye-for-an-eye kind of girl, and I’ve got a strong sense of justice should be served,” she explained.

“So I decided to follow him into the fruit and veg shop and hunt him down.”

Sara followed the man and confronted him again for his ‘vile’ behaviour. Picture: Instagram/@saralipservice

The man didn’t speak again, giving her a thumbs up before the recording ends. Picture: Instagram/@saralipservice

She then shared footage of their second interaction, in the hope that “his employer, colleagues – if he even has a job – friends and family can see exactly what type of person he is”.

In the clip, Sara approaches the man, then follows him through the store while saying: “You wanna tell me to go back to Asia again, you racist f**king pig? You f**king coward. Say it to my face again.”

The man turns to face her, silently giving her a thumbs up before the recording ends.

News.com.au has contacted Sara for comment on the incident.

Those in the comments of Sara’s video were largely in support of her behaviour, and praised her for ‘standing up’ for herself. Picture: Instagram/@saralipservice

A Needs of the Nation poll, conducted for The Australian by The Growth Distillery and the findings of which were published in July, found that 72 per cent of respondents would describe Australians as racist in the wake of the failed Voice to Parliament referendum last October.

The survey of 1042 people showed 17 per cent think the word “racist” describes Australia “a lot”, and 55 per cent think it describes Australia “a little”. Only 24 per cent felt the word “racist” is not one that reflects our nation at all.

Sara said she has a ‘zero-tolerance policy on this kind of behaviour’. Picture: Instagram/@saralipservice

Those in the comments of Sara’s video – which she also posted to Instagram – were largely in support of her behaviour, and praised her for “standing up” for herself.

“You are so brave! I’m sorry for what happened to you. Take care out there,” one wrote.

“B*stards!!!! So sorry you have to keep dealing with this,” a second commented.

“He absolutely messed with the wrong person.”

While a third said: “Good on you!! Love your courage to record him.”

Originally published as ‘Vile’: Woman confronts alleged racist in busy Sydney shopping centre