'Confront Them…’: UK Woman's Tirade On Hindi-Speaking Staff At London Airport Sparks Outrage

Last Updated:July 27, 2025, 17:19 IST

Lucy White, a British woman, faced backlash online for criticizing Marks & Spencer staff at Heathrow for speaking Hindi. Netizens called her rant discriminatory and unnecessary.

British Woman Criticises M&S Staff At Heathrow Airport For Speaking In Hindi. (X)

A British woman has come under fire on social media for criticising Marks & Spencer employees at London’s Heathrow Airport for speaking in Hindi. The netizens have slammed her rant on social media as discriminatory and unnecessary.

In a now viral post, the woman, identified as Lucy White- who describes herself as a Public Policy Specialist – said she had just landed at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 and stopped by an M&S outlet where she overheard three staff members conversing in a “different language".

White asked the employees what language they were speaking in, and was told they were conversing in Hindi – the most widely spoken language in India.

White further claimed she recorded their speech and had plans to report them to Marks & Spencer.

“I asked them ‘What language are you speaking?’ They responded ‘Hindi’. I have a voice recording and their names to report to M&S. We must confront them every time," she said in a post on X.

Netizens React

However, White’s post didn’t sit well with social media users. While several tried to understand her point, most of them questioned what rules the staff had broken and why she found it offensive.

“I don’t see the issue with this. If I go to France with my wife, I’ll speak English with her — it’s our native tongue. What am I missing here?" one user asked.

Another questioned her outrage, saying, “What arrogance. If they’re not dealing with customers, what’s the problem? Did you speak fluent Spanish during your entire holiday in Spain?"

Many argued that speaking in one’s native language among colleagues shouldn’t be an issue, “So long as they’re not addressing you in Hindi, why is it your business? Staff are allowed to talk to each other in their own language while doing routine work. This is not racism — this is common sense."

“I’ve worked with three Polish colleagues for over 20 years. They speak to each other in Polish and to me in perfect English. I don’t see why that should be a problem for anyone," commented another user.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

Read More

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London, United Kingdom (UK)

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News viral 'Confront Them…’: UK Woman's Tirade On Hindi-Speaking Staff At London Airport Sparks Outrage