A TikToker and singer has sparked mixed reactions after sharing her advice on how to respond when a date asks to split the bill.
It might be 'tradition' for men to pay the bill in male-female relationships, but as women have continued to fight for equality and earn their own money, a lot of people think it's now only fair to go 50/50 when out on a date.
Pearl Botts, from LA, is not one of those people.
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In a video shared on TikTok, the singer shared a tip for how to respond when a man asks to split the bill, when you don't believe you should cough up for your half of the meal.
"Do this," Pearl advised, before she began acting surprised at the prospect of going 50/50.
"Oh my god, I'm so embarrassed right now," she said to her imaginary date. "You wanted to just be friends? I'm so confused, this whole entire time I thought this was a date... I'm so sorry, here's my card."
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Pearl's response indicates that going 50/50 wouldn't even be a possibility if they were on a date, leaving the man in no uncertain terms about her thoughts on who should pay.
It's unclear whether Pearl has ever actually offered up this response in real life, and if so what reaction she got from the man, but it's safe to say TikTokers have been left divided.
A number of people agreed with Pearl that the other person should pay for everything, with one person commenting: "It’s like u took yourself on the date if u pay for yourself. like what [sic]."
However, others argued that if the woman is helping to rack up the bill, then she should be able to help pay for it.
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"if it's a first date I see no problem with splitting the bill," one viewer responded.
Another agreed, writing: "You are literally strangers on the first date. Pay for what you order."
In a follow-up video, Pearl expressed her belief that it's 'disrespectful' to the man for the woman to split the bill on a date.
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Responding to a viewer who pointed out they can pay for their own dinner because they had a job, Pearl said: "It is disrespectful and emasculating to the man to pay for yourself on a date.
"When you let a man have the great honor of taking care of you, you are making space and giving room for him to step into his divine masculine.
"It has nothing to do with capability to provide for myself. It is a gift to a man to allow him to take care of you."
In spite of Pearl's efforts to explain her point of view, she still failed to win over all of her viewers, with one person arguing that it was 'disrespectful' to the woman to refuse to let her pay her half.
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Another viewer added that while it's 'nice' if the man pays, the woman should 'never expect' him to.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, TikTok, Viral, Money, Life
Emily Brown