According to Eurostat data published in February 2026, 10.8% of foreign-born residents in Portugal reported experiencing public discrimination, a striking contrast to the 1.8% of native-born residents who reported similar treatment in 2024. That broader European context hit close to home on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when a Korean tourist in Porto pulled out her mobile phone to film a group of diners mocking her facial appearance. sundayguardianlive.com reported that the footage quickly amassed roughly 1.2 million views, 25,000 likes, and 1,500 comments across social media platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter.
Restaurant Confrontation and Slanted-Eye Gestures in Porto
The traveler was enjoying a meal in a Porto restaurant when a family seated nearby allegedly began making explicit anti-Asian remarks. According to newsable.asianetnews.com, the group used the terms “Chino” and “Coreano” while repeatedly stretching out the corners of their eyes in stereotypical slanted-eye gestures. Instead of stopping when challenged, the individuals continued to laugh and dismiss the protests on camera.
Faced with the public humiliation, the tourist recorded the exchange while asking the group to repeat their actions on film. When confronted by the customer, members of the family attempted to deflect by claiming they were only staring because she had nice skin, sundayguardianlive.com reported. The situation shifted when a female employee at the restaurant stepped forward, stating she had witnessed the discriminatory behavior herself and demanded that the family leave the premises.
가만히 앉아서 술 마시고 있는데 대놓고 인종차별을 당함. 내 쪽을 보면서 눈을 찢는 시늉을 하더니, 손 높이를 바꿔가며 중국인, 한국인, 일본인은 다르다고 하더라. 세 번째까지 그러길래 “지금 나 보고 하는 거냐”고 물었더니 자기들끼리 또 웃음. 영상 소리 잘 들어보면 내가 “치노? 코레아노?”… pic.twitter.com/3L2tP4Aw6F
Escalation Outside the Establishment
The dispute did not end when the family was escorted out of the dining room. Newsable.asianetnews.com reported that members of the group allegedly followed the tourist outside, cornering her on the street and aggressively demanding that she delete the video from her phone. Fearing for her safety and hoping to preserve evidence of the harassment, she stood her ground and kept her camera rolling until she reached a secure location.
Neither local authorities nor police in Porto have issued an official statement regarding the incident, and it remains unconfirmed whether the family faced formal legal action or questioning. Public reaction online has driven widespread debate regarding accountability in the tourism sector and how hospitality staff should manage public harassment.
Worth a look
