A viral video of a Toronto woman detailing her alleged experience attempting to use a washroom at a Markham restaurant is igniting polarizing discussions around fair and equal public restroom use in the city. 

The TikTok, uploaded by beauty creator @glowbymaryyy last month, has amassed over 70,000 views and hundreds of comments. 

"I'm not usually one to cry on social media, but I just had the worst restaurant experience of my life," Maryam says in between tears. "I'm on my period, I'm literally bleeding." 

As a result, the content creator explains that she entered the restaurant, Kyushu Yakitori Izakaya at 181 Yonge St. in Markham to use the washroom. "This guy he comes, he's like, 'Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me," she says. 

@glowbymaryyy I am so beyond disgusted by this aggressive behaviour please keep sharing to spread awareness ##physicallyassaulted##toronto##torontorestaurant##deinfluencing##deinfluencer##badresturantservice##torontotok##fyp##viral ♬ original sound - Maryam: Beauty Creator

Maryam alleges that she was told she couldn't use the bathroom because she wasn't a guest. "He's like 'no you can't use the washroom,' and he grabs me, he literally grabs me by my hoodie," she explains. 

"I'm like 'you do you understand I am literally bleeding right? Like I need to use the washroom and this is the only one open right now.'" 

The content creator alleges that the man grabbed onto her hoodie for two minutes and told her to leave the restaurant. 

"Is this humanity right now? Just because I’m not buying something from you, and I'm literally a woman bleeding right now, you're not going to let me use your washroom? [Do you] understand how messed up that is?" Maryam says as she cries. 

The video was quickly reshared across other social media platforms and resulted in heated discussions regarding public washrooms in Toronto. While many agreed that those in need should be granted access to a washroom no matter the circumstances, others defended the business for only permitting guests to use its facilities. 

"I'm so sorry, literally a basic human right, this world is twisted," one person wrote under the TikTok. 

yup and its very hard to find a washroom downtown, some stores have even closed bathrooms to shoppers so even if you are buying stuff or have to change a diaper you cant - you have to leave and try to go find a bathroom

— Justice_Queen ⚖️ 🔰🪬 (@RE_MarketWatch) April 1, 2024

"I'm sorry this happened to you. But if you walk into a random sit down restaurant saying, I’m going to use your washroom and proceed to go in, it's likely not allowed," a contrasting comment reads.

The video prompted many Toronto residents to leave negative Google reviews under the restaurant's page.

In a statement to blogTO, the restaurant firmly denied Maryam's allegations in the video. 

"There was no assault involved. The individual forcefully entered the premises, disregarding our staff's instructions, and began shouting about her menstrual cycle in front of other patrons. Approximately 30 minutes later, she returned with companions and engaged in harassing behavior toward both staff and customers," the statement reads. 

"We promptly contacted the authorities, leading to a police investigation.
Eyewitnesses corroborate our account, as confirmed by the police," staff told blogTO. 

"It's worth noting that public restroom facilities are available within the mall, located in the same building. Furthermore, had the individual simply requested access instead of forcing her way in, the situation could have been handled differently."

blogTO reached out to Maryam for further information but did not receive a response back in time for this article's publication.