A male restaurateur was surprised when his sing-along brunches became a major hit in Ohio, but only with women. In a video with more than 598,000 views, Alex Sheridan (@brunchplz) explained that he noticed men “trashing” women for having a good time at Brunch, Please!, a sing-along brunch event at his restaurant, Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen.
The brunches feature a build-your-own Bloody Mary and mimosa bar along with a live karaoke set. They’ve quickly become popular in the Marion, Ohio, community and have grown into a safe place for women to be themselves, something Sheridan noticed early on.
Across platforms like Facebook and TikTok, many people have expressed a desire for the branches to go national. Covered by the Today Show and other forums, they’ve become a sensation from Minnesota to North Carolina.
But, Sheridan began seeing an influx of Facebook comments on posts for Brunch, Please! criticizing women for going out to his bar. Curious, he asked his community about their experiences and whether they often received hate for simply enjoying themselves in public.
“Not a covered drink or uncomfortable woman in sight,” said one TikTok commenter when Sheridan posed the question. “And they hate it.”
Soon after, Sheridan noticed women commenting with bear emojis and saying, “I’d rather pick the bear.” That left him wondering what it meant.
What does the bear emoji mean?
Sheridan quickly realized that many women in his comments were referencing a viral post by Screenshot HQ, which asked, “Man or bear?”
Essentially, if you ask a woman whether she would rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear, there’s a strong chance she’ll pick the bear. The trend reflects how uncomfortable and unsafe many women feel around men, especially in unfamiliar or male-dominated settings.
Screenshot HQ originally started the conversation by asking seven women the same question. Only one chose the man.
The viral TikTok post underscored how many women feel unsafe in certain spaces and how some men express frustration when they see women-centered environments thriving.
Since then, the bear emoji has become a symbol of women’s safety and solidarity. Many people comment with the emoji to show support and awareness of women’s experiences.
@brunchplz I’ve learned sooo much in these last few months from doing these singalong brunches. #singalongbrunch #brunchplease #girlsbelike #manvsbear #girlssupportgirls ♬ original sound – BRUNCH, PLEASE!
Bear Brunches
Sheridan said he understands why the message resonates with his brunch audience. “That kinda makes sense. I have no idea what part of the algorithm my stuff is popping up on now, but I’m kind of here for it. You’re fed up, you’re vocal, you’re passionate, and rightfully so,” he said.
Other TikTok commenters also understood the overall messaging. “[I] had to look up [the meaning of the] bear. I get it to a certain degree. I don’t think men are as bad as what that bear thing is describing but I totally get it. What I don’t get is why they have to make comments about us being loud and singing for ourselves with other women. They are so threatened by our ability to be us and let loose and be honest with emotions,” said one woman in the comments section of Sheridan’s post.
Sheridan reiterated, “Please accept my support, but also [expletive] me. And again, I am so sorry that you have had to deal with this.”
After a wave of responses from both sides, Sheridan decided to take the symbolism and inject it into Bucci’s. He’s suggested printing a series of bear-themed t-shirts and opening up new dates so that more women can enjoy the space he’s accidentally created for them.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Sheridan via TikTok for comment.
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