An Indian-origin young man has sparked a debate online on casual racism after he was mistaken for an Uber Eats driver while trying to order food at a McDonald’s outlet.
Praveen Param said he experienced the incident at a local restaurant on 31 May when he walked up to the counter and was immediately typecast.
Praveen recalled:
“The gentleman behind the counter looks at me, looks at the screen, looks back at me and I already knew what was going to come out of his mouth.”
“He says: ‘Uber?’ I said, ‘No, I would like to order please.’”
After receiving his meal, Praveen decided to confront the employee, asking why he had assumed he was a delivery driver.
“I said to him, ‘Just because a lot of people from my ethnic background may do Uber, it doesn’t mean everyone does Uber — assuming that only makes you look like an a**hole.’”
But instead of acknowledging the bias, Praveen alleged that the staff member doubled down.
“This white man then obviously decides to double down on his racism and says, ‘Oh nah, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that the people who come into this Maccas who are Indian often end up being Uber drivers.’”
The exchange, which Praveen shared publicly on TikTok, has reignited debate about the subtle yet damaging impact of racial profiling in daily life.
“This is the reality of being a South East Asian person living in Australia,” he said.
“No matter what your achievements are, how you treat people, how you dress, or how you conduct yourself, you will always be reduced to some stereotype by some white person out there. Australians — do better.”
However, reactions to his post were mixed. Some even dismissed his concerns, suggesting he was overreacting.One commenter wrote:
“Nothing wrong with the assumption. The Uber guy is just doing a job.”
Others, however, supported Praveen, stating:
“What is wrong with these comments? His point is that an assumption was made about him based on his race and that is inherently RACIST.”
“I am a white woman and no one would ever assume I was doing Uber,” another wrote.
“These comments telling him to leave Australia are disgusting. Shame on all of you.”
In response to the incident, McDonald’s issued an apology and encouraged Praveen to get in touch. A spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia, “At McDonald’s, we are committed to giving our customers a great experience every time they visit our restaurants.”
“Our doors are open to everyone, and we strive to ensure our restaurants are safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces for our customers and crew. We are sorry to hear of this customer’s experience and encourage them to reach out to our customer service team so we can investigate further.”
For Praveen, the incident is emblematic of a broader issue. “I’m not asking for special treatment,” he said.
“I just want people to stop reducing us to tired assumptions. That’s not respect — that’s racism.”
Praveen added that this wasn’t an isolated incident but rather a common experience for many non-white Australians. In a follow-up TikTok video, Praveen addressed the racist comments he received after sharing his experience of being stereotyped at a McDonald’s.
“The comments on my video just prove my point. Casual racism is so ingrained that people don’t even see it.”
Prvaeen’s has urged people to reflect on their own behaviour and challenge ingrained biases. His response highlights the challenges faced by individuals who speak out against everyday racism and the need for broader societal reflection on these issues.
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