The debate over who should pay for someone’s birthday dinner has sparked a heated debate on TikTok.
Last month, a TikTok user named Sean Lans posted a clip on the video-sharing platform, where he said he decided to skip a friend’s birthday dinner because of the high prices of food and drinks at the restaurant chosen for the celebration.
“For his birthday, [my friend] he picked a restaurant where the cheapest entree was $41, so I didn’t go and now he’s mad at me,” Lans explained at the beginning of the clip. “…I’m a little broke anyway, so I’m just going to skip dinner and then go out. ”
Noting that his friend wasn’t happy with his choice to skip dinner but join their group afterward, Lans defended his decision, saying, “I don’t want to spend the equivalent of a week’s worth of money at the grocery store for one night. I think I did a fair compromise, so I don’t know what to tell you.”
He ended his video by saying, “Yes, it’s your birthday, but you should know if your friends will be happy where you choose… I don’t think your birthday is the biggest, most beautiful thing. It’s about having fun with your friends and doing something you love.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(665x0:667x2)/Birthday-Dinner-020824-1-650970a4ee66461cbe441258ab7528f5.jpg)
Friends are celebrating their birthday.
Getty
TikTok divided over how to share an account when you’re out with friends — an expert answers
In the comments section of his post, Lans was met with praise from others who agreed with him.
“It’s his birthday so no need to change plans, but you also don’t have to go if you’re stingy with money. At least you should understand,” one user wrote, while another added, “Friends who make you feel bad because you’re stingy with money they’re not your friends period.”
Others took the side of the friend who was celebrating his birthday, stating that Lans should have been more prepared and planned in advance to go out to the restaurant.
“If you can’t spend $100 a year to celebrate your friend, are you even a friend?” one commenter wrote, while another said: “I feel like you have a whole year to save up for your friends [sic] unapologetic birthday.”
Martha Stewart Shares Her Etiquette Tips for Dining Out and Travel: ‘I Never Leave a Mess’ (Exclusive)
Not long after Lance’s video went viral, influencer Tinx took his side and stated in her TikTok video that a friend celebrating a birthday should pay for everyone’s dinner during the celebration.
“If you invite a person to a restaurant of your choice for your birthday, you should pay for everything,” she said.
Tinx continued, “I know it’s going to be very unpopular, but I just don’t think you can pick a restaurant and ask people to come celebrate you and pay for it yourself.”
The star then repeated that it would be her “part” if she planned a date and invited the group to it.
“Choosing an expensive restaurant and expecting everyone to pay, and in this person’s case, then getting angry when he says, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t afford it,’ is really bad manners,” Tinx concluded.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education