A Wisconsin restaurant owner has found himself at the center of mounting controversy after making a series of remarks about female servers during a podcast interview. In the interview, he claimed that men make better employees and that women are more difficult to work with comments that quickly went viral, drew widespread criticism, and prompted protests outside his restaurant. Days later, the owner intensified the backlash by dancing outside the business in front of demonstrators, a moment that rapidly spread across social media and triggered a fresh wave of outrage.
Footage shared on Reddit shows a protest taking place across the road from Angelini’s Ristorante on Highway 35 in Onalaska, Wisconsin. While demonstrators gathered outside, restaurant owner Tony Angelini appeared unfazed, dancing in front of the restaurant in what many viewers interpreted as a counter-protest of his own.
The protest was likely prompted by comments Angelini recently made on his podcast, Angelini Special, in which he singled out women as less effective servers than men and described them as more difficult to work with in a restaurant setting. During the episode, Tony Angelini shared his views on the issue, stating: “I’ve been in the industry since I was 11 years old. I prefer hiring male over female all day. ‘Cause these females, they just about everything. And when they have their time of the month? Forget about it. Nobody can talk to ’em. And the drama they create amongst employees. They are drama.”
Angelini stated that he prefers hiring men over women, arguing that female employees are more difficult to manage. He cited workplace “drama” and even women’s menstrual cycles as reasons for his preference.
The remarks quickly circulated online, prompting widespread criticism of Angelini’s views on women in the workplace. As clips from both the podcast and his response to protesters spread across social media, the debate intensified.
The Internet Intensified the Backlash, Despite Some Who Defended The Misogynist
The videos rapidly gained traction on social media, where many viewers mocked both Angelini’s remarks and his decision to dance outside the restaurant as protesters gathered nearby.
“From what I’ve read, the protest was because the owner said he prefers to hire male waitstaff because they are more reliable and less whiny.”
“As a woman, that misogynist has got some funky dance moves. I bet if he could tolerate the presence of women he’d be fun at parties.”
When some commenters tried to portray the backlash as politically motivated, local residents pushed back.
“I live in this town, and you are wrong. People are protesting because he said disgusting sexist things in a video podcast he posted to YouTube. To quote him, ‘These females… Especially on their time of the month.’ He and his staff spewed hatred towards women for the entire 10 min video.”
Ultimately, the controversy grew beyond a single restaurant or podcast episode. For many, Angelini’s comments raised broader concerns about how women are perceived and treated in the workplace. While opinions remain divided, the strong response from locals and social media users shows that conversations about gender, respect, and professionalism continue to resonate far beyond the walls of any one business.
