A Colorado woman says she has no plans to return to a local barbecue restaurant after walking out when the national anthem began playing inside.
Autum Trayler, 24, recorded her reaction at Mission BBQ in Arvada, appearing visibly uncomfortable as the patriotic song played over the speakers.
In the June 9 TikTok video, which drew nearly 8,000 views, Trayler can be heard saying, “I’m not doing none of this,” before turning to leave.
At one point in the clip, she quietly says, “Help me,” while motioning toward the camera with a clenched fist and acting out a choking gesture to show her disgust.
Trayler, of Denver, also wrote in her caption that she was not in a safe space and added that she felt ‘scared.’
Mission BBQ is known for playing the national anthem every day at noon and has built much of its identity around honoring veterans and military service members.
Trayler later told the Daily Mail that although the staff treated her very well and she thought the food was “pretty good,” the experience left her unwilling to go back.
‘Absolutely not,’ said Trayler when asked if she would go back to Mission BBQ.
Autum Trayler, 24, says she will never return to Mission BBQ because it plays the national anthem
Trayler filmed her horrified reaction as the anthem was played in the Denver, Colorado eatery
‘It’s just a little too right-side leaning for me to feel comfortable supporting myself,’ she said.
Trayler added that she believes people have the right not to stand for the national anthem.
The left-leaning Democrat noted that, in ‘this political climate,’ playing the national anthem labels an establishment as right-wing.
However, she said that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even those who disagreed with her video.
She also revealed that she has been inundated with threats since sharing the video online.
‘I’m not going to rule the gavel down on anybody, but I mean, I received quite a few kind of crazy threats through my DMs and not the nicest comments over this,’ she said.
‘That was more scary than the actual TikTok itself.’
The restaurant plays the national anthem every day at noon in honor of its clientele who are predominantly veterans
Trayler, a Democrat, said the decision to play the anthem aligns the restaurant with right-wing politics
Users online were split, with many validating her reaction and others absolutely torching her for the response.
One user wrote on TikTok: ‘Oh girl that’s what Mission BBQ is all about I fear,’ to which Trayler replied, ‘Girl I went in completely blind.’
Another echoed her fear, writing: ‘Oh I’m actually scared.’
A third added: ‘My partner and I had the same reaction.’
Trayler liked several comments that condemned the restaurant for playing the national anthem.
However, many other users expressed confusion and outrage over why Autum would be so upset by the country’s anthem.
‘You don’t want to hear the national anthem?’ one user asked.
‘I’m confused. I mean, not like you have to participate, but it’s literally just the national anthem.’
Mission BBQ, a patriotic establishment that prides itself on catering to veterans. The barbecue chain also proudly plays the national anthem every day at noon
‘God forbid people can express themselves,’ another sarcastically noted.
‘I’ll be at Mission BBQ today. Thank you for showing a patriotic restaurant,’ a third person said.
Mission BBQ is a chain of restaurants whose slogan is: ‘Proudly serving those who serve.’
It opened on the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 and serves meals costing between $10 and $15.
‘As the founders of MISSION BBQ, we strive every day to remind everyone what makes Our Country great—its heroes,’ the website states.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Mission BBQ for comment.
