UK backpacker makes grim claim about Sydney after shocking experience at a cafe: ‘Maybe I was wrong’
A UK backpacker has questioned whether Sydney is filled with racists after overhearing two women make disparaging comments about Asians at a cafe.
Sophie Carson, from London, was standing outside a Japanese-style cafe in Glebe in Sydney’s Inner West when she overheard ‘two middle-aged, white mums’ speaking.
She claimed they were complaining about the number of Asian people.
‘I tuned into their conversation and realised they were complaining about how busy the cafe was, and the exact terminology that was used was, “Oh, there’s so many Asians around here, you can’t move for them!”‘ Ms Carson said.
‘When I heard that I did sort of turn around and look them up and down and they were just looking at everyone on the other tables with this sneery face.
‘They proceeded to continue talking about how many Asians there are in Sydney now.
‘And the irony of the situation is that [they were] literally sitting outside a Japanese-style matcha cafe… it’s a f***ing Asian cafe.’
Ms Carson said the incident is an example of why ‘so many people don’t like white people indulging in their cultures’, before making a grim admission about Sydney.
Sophie Carson, who is from London, said she was stood outside the cafe when she overheard the racist remarks
‘I don’t have that much knowledge of Australia and Australia’s “social situation” but I thought Sydney was supposed to be not full of racist c***s, but maybe I was wrong?’ she said.
‘The reason that I’m talking about this is because I see people arguing about should white people be allowed to appreciate specifically Asian cultures.’
Ms Carson added: ‘This is a perfect prime example for the white people out there who don’t understand why people get so outraged and why people get so protective.
‘Try to now hopefully understand part of where they’re coming from. You want to appreciate the food, but you don’t give a f*** about the people that made it.’
Ms Carson’s rant, which has nearly 190,000 views on TikTok, garnered hundreds of comments from Asian-Australians who thanked her for speaking out about the issue.
‘Thank you for raising awareness on this,’ one commented.
‘Unfortunately racism is still quite prevalent in our society and it still bewilders me how people can make comments like this in public.’
Another person said ‘fighting racism in Australia is a lost cause’.
She said she overheard ‘two middle-aged, white mums’ complaining about how many Asian people were in the cafe (stock image)
‘Some people are willing to reform but then again it’s disappointing that in 2026 you gotta tell them that racism is wrong. Most people in this country however are beyond ignorant and beyond saving,’ they said.
A woman apologised for the behaviour of the two women.
‘On behalf of middle-aged white women I apologise for these two. Unacceptable behaviour. This isn’t Australian to behave like this,’ she wrote.
Others suggested Ms Carson should have called out the women at the time of the racist incident.
‘I would have called that out! Any racism, I will call it out loudly,’ one wrote.
Another said she should have ‘challenged’ the two ladies ‘in a polite manner’.
‘Those people feel confident saying what they say about Asians in an Asian cafe because no one challenges their ideas and their audacity directly,’ they wrote.
