A disturbing incident of racial assault inside a Toronto McDonald’s has sparked outrage online, reigniting concerns about rising racism and xenophobia against immigrants in Canada.
A viral video circulating on social media shows a visibly intoxicated white man wearing a Toronto Blue Jays jacket confronting and attacking a brown man, believed to be of Indian origin, near the restaurant’s Mobile Order Pick-Up counter.
The footage captures the aggressor suddenly shoving the Indian man, sending his phone flying to the floor. When the victim calmly retrieved his phone, the attacker lunged again, grabbing him by the collar and pushing him back while shouting, “Why are you acting superior?”
Despite being assaulted, the Indian man remained composed and did not retaliate. A McDonald’s staff member or bystander quickly intervened, urging both men to move the confrontation outside. However, the intoxicated attacker continued shouting accusations of arrogance before being escorted from the premises.
Police have not yet released an official statement, and the identities of the individuals involved have not been confirmed. The incident reportedly took place on November 1 in Toronto. NDTV could not independently verify the authenticity of the viral clip.
The assault comes amid growing unease over racially motivated attacks in Canada, particularly against members of the South Asian community. It follows closely on the heels of another violent incident in Edmonton, where 55-year-old Indo-Canadian businessman Arvi Singh Sagoo was fatally attacked on October 19. Sagoo died five days later after confronting a man who urinated on his vehicle and was punched in the head.
The McDonald’s assault video has since prompted widespread condemnation online, with many calling for stronger protections and faster police responses to hate-motivated violence. For Canada’s large Indian diaspora, the back-to-back attacks have deepened concerns about safety and inclusion in a country long seen as one of the world’s most welcoming multicultural societies.