Woman tried to politely reject a stranger by saying she had a boyfriend — his response turned an awkward encounter into a disturbing one
Many uncomfortable encounters begin with a simple interaction that escalates because someone chose not to respect a person's boundaries. That was the experience of Instagram creator and vocalist Victoria, who goes by @call.her.victoria, who shared an unsettling encounter on July 9, 2026. While loading her shopping bags into her car in a Costco parking lot, a man rolled down his window and called out to her. At first, she assumed he was about to ask for her parking space. Instead, what followed was an increasingly uncomfortable conversation that took an unexpected turn after she tried to end it politely.
The man began by complimenting Victoria's appearance, telling her he thought her body looked perfect before asking whether she was single. Hoping to end the interaction without escalating the situation, she replied that she had a boyfriend. Rather than respecting that answer, he responded with a bizarre remark suggesting he could offer her something her partner supposedly couldn't. He even asked whether she could "be single for one night." The unexpected response left the woman visibly confused, as the conversation had shifted from awkward catcalling to something far more inappropriate and concerning.
Victoria later admitted that she had lied about having a boyfriend. Like many women, she instinctively reached for that response because it often feels safer than saying she simply isn't interested. To her surprise, the stranger disregarded that statement and continued to flirt in an unsettling manner. Not only did he dismiss the boundary she had created, but he also seemed to assume she would be willing to entertain the obnoxious idea. While her lie may seem like a harmless excuse, research suggests it is one that many women resort to when faced with unwanted advances.
Researchers cited by Popline have identified that many say, "I already have a boyfriend," as a deceptive rejection strategy to avoid uncomfortable or potentially unsafe interactions. That instinct is echoed by research published in PubMed Central, which found that women are more likely to employ a range of safety strategies, from calling a friend to physically leaving the area, when rejecting unwanted advances. While Victoria tried to brush it off as a weird interaction, the implications were suspicious and borderline dangerous. Everyone deserves to have their boundaries respected the first time they express them. Commenters were enraged at the man's behavior and words. @hurrikanejames said, "This is so wild and all too common, I bet! I'm sorry you had to go through this." @natashaedwina added, "The smile on my face slowly turned to a stank face as this video went on."
For more such stories, follow Victoria at @call.her.victoria on Instagram.
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