‘She is a real one’: Woman says date asked to split the check. Then she sees what the server did
The Viral Incident
A TikTok video went viral after a woman (@simplyinskincare) shared how her date suggested splitting the bill, but the waitress only charged her $0.01. The waitress, Victoria, received praise for her actions, viewed as support for the woman.
The Debate on Splitting Bills
Splitting the bill on dates is a contentious issue. While some see it as equitable, others, particularly women, view a man's offer to split as a red flag, contrasting with traditional expectations of men paying on dates. The article highlights differing perspectives, citing a therapist who states it depends on individual values and evolving societal norms.
Social Media Reactions
The article includes various TikTok videos showcasing different perspectives. Some women expressed that men suggesting a split is a reason for being single, linking it to chivalry and generosity. However, the article acknowledges not everyone agrees, with some women comfortable with splitting the bill equally.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the ongoing evolution of dating norms and the varying interpretations of acts like bill-splitting. While the situation showcases an act of kindness by the waitress, the underlying discussion emphasizes the changing dynamics of courtship and financial expectations within relationships.
The dating scene for women these days has its fair share of criticisms. From getting ChatGPT-fished and judged for not inviting their date inside, to not knowing there was a secret etiquette rule when ordering meals on a first date. Women have voiced their frustration–and annoyance–with the 2020s dating era.
One debate, however, that has been around long before Hinge and Tinder is the topic of splitting the check. The question of who should pay the bill on dates inspires passionate responses from all parties involved. This is exactly what led one TikToker’s video to hurtle into virality.
In a viral video, TikToker @simplyinskincare shared the aftermath of her date asking the server to split the bill. The server, being a “girl’s girl” as TikTokers called her, got cheeky.
“When he suggests to the waitress to split the bill but she is a real one,” @simplyinskincare writes in the text overlay. She reveals the receipt her server at the Highlight Room in New York City handed her.
The grand total? A whopping $0.01.
It seems @simplyinskincare appreciated the gesture because she vowed to give her a “3000% tip” in the caption. In a comment, she revealed she left a $30 tip.
‘A true girl’s girl’
Viewers praised the server, who, according to the receipt, was named Victoria.
“I’ll have to ask to be seated at Victoria section when my friends and I go,” one wrote. One user pointed out, “He said split but not 50/50.”
Others called Victoria a “queen” for helping a fellow woman, while some urged her never to date that man again.
To split or not to split the check?
Splitting the check on first dates seems rational to many. You’re both somewhat strangers to each other, and you’re not sure whether this is worth it yet. It at least originates from an intention of equality. Over the past several years, though, many women have gone viral explaining why the man asking to split the check is a red flag.
Society held the belief for a long time that men in heterosexual couples should pick up the tab when dining out. This was considered courteous. In other instances, those who invite first are the ones expected to cover the cost. However, with societal and cultural roles shifting in the 2010s, the expectation became even murkier than before.
A clinical director at My LA Therapy, Brooke Sprowl, told wedding news site The Knot that the question is “less about hard and fast rules and more about what that decision represents in the context of our personal value systems.”
The director reveals that for some, the act is a “traditional gesture” about care and intention. Others see it as balance and equality.
When it comes to who should pay, Sprowl says, “As societal views shift, many couples now see splitting the bill as a reflection of mutual respect and shared investment in the experience.”
But do women agree?
@simplyinskincare 4 martinis in & leaving a 3000% tip #baddate #girls #nycdating #thehighlightroom #realone ♬ original sound – Jacobdior
According to @simplyskincare and her commenters, they see things differently. In a viral clip, a woman listed men asking to split the bill as the reason women are single in 2025. Another shared how she cuts ties with men who ask to split the check. When pressed for a reason, the TikToker replied that “if a man invites you out for dinner he should pay for it, especially if it’s early days. It’s a way of showing his chivalry and generosity, which women appreciate.”
It goes without saying that not everyone thinks this way. Many have voiced that they are fine with going 50/50 while on a date. Still, this isn’t the first time a server has gotten involved in a situation like @simplyskincare’s. One woman asked her server for her opinion when her date asked to go 50/50. The server appeared uncomfortable, and in the end, the woman footed the full bill to prove a point that “she had money” and it was just the principle.
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