A Massachusetts man allegedly called a Black woman a “chimp” and other vile racial slurs, apparently believing he would get away with it unscathed.
But she fired back online, and her video unexpectedly went viral.
After tracking down his real name, his workplace, and his wife’s place of business, the woman who goes by “youknowthatgirlangel” online issued a warning in a November 5 Instagram Reel.
She said, “You can’t put a mask on in your professional life and think that what you do in your personal life won’t show up and exempt you from the scrutiny of being a racist, bigoted white man.”
Angel could have a second career as a detective.
The saga began in early October when Angel and a man she identified as Thomas Merchel, who was carrying his young daughter at the time, exchanged barbs in the parking lot of a Costco in Everett after he touched her car.
She expressed shock at how he went full racist mode “with ease.”
He shouted, “You chimping out, nig-er?” she recalled, adding that he did so with his “whole chest deliberately and thoughtfully.”
In the video, which racked up nearly a million views across social media, she said in an eerily calm voice, “You should be mindful of the words you say because there could be consequences for your actions, and guess what, Thomas, I’m consequences.”
The man has since erased his entire social media presence, Angel said. Meanwhile, people are flooding his workplace, SMAA , with comments about the incident.
“You have to do mental gymnastics before you decide to speak out about racism, because by doing so, there’s a whole different set of consequences,” she said in a November 8 follow-up on Instagram.
She admitted to having a “bit of guilt” about publicly exposing him, adding that she did not make the decision lightly.
Angel has also received an outpouring of support from commenters, many of whom praised her for refusing to let the man’s alleged racism go unchecked.
Echoing several comments, one person said, “I don’t care what you did/said beforehand.-You can respond in a shi-ty way, an angry way that doesn’t involve a person’s race… The fact that he’s a man disrespecting a woman just makes it that much worse.”
Another top comment read, “Guess what? I’m consequences.’ Is everything.”
The outpouring of support appears to have made an impression on Angel, who referred to her supporters in the comments as her family, calling them her “new cousins.”
“Under no circumstances should racism be tolerated,” wrote Angel in another video. “And nobody should have to keep explaining why it’s wrong.”
SMMA released a statement saying they are aware of the incident.
“Racially offensive language and behavior are unacceptable. We do not condone or tolerate such conduct, and it does not reflect who we are as a firm or the values we stand for,” CEO Lorraine Finnegan said.
Finnegan says the company has taken action and addressed the matter directly. However, the statement did not say whether the man received any disciplinary action.
