Man Refuses Pregnant Woman Seat on Bus, Says “You Want Equality, You Can Stand”
A social media post detailing an encounter on a public bus has sparked intense debate online after a man allegedly refused to give up his seat for a pregnant woman, citing “equality,” only for events to take an unexpected turn moments later.
The incident was shared by a woman on X (formerly Twitter) and has since gone viral, drawing reactions around issues of courtesy, gender roles, empathy and public behaviour.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to the eyewitness account, the visibly pregnant woman, estimated to be about five to six months pregnant, appeared weak and uncomfortable while standing on the bus. Holding her stomach, she reportedly asked a male passenger to allow her take his seat. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
The man allegedly declined and replied, “Well, you want equality, you can stand.”
Moments after the exchange, the situation reportedly escalated when the pregnant woman suddenly vomited on the man, splashing his jacket, phone and seat area.
The eyewitness, who shared the story online, admitted that the man’s reaction was shocking, describing it as “unexpected but satisfying.” She added that she immediately gave up her own seat to assist the pregnant woman.
The post quickly ignited heated conversations online, with users split over who was in the wrong.
Some users questioned why the pregnant woman specifically approached a male passenger instead of a female.
One user, identified as Daune, wrote:
“I would have given her my seat, but why did she ask a man instead of another woman?”
Another user, Ankit, defended the man’s stance, arguing that pregnancy does not automatically entitle anyone to another person’s seat, especially when others could have intervened.
However, many users criticised the man’s response, describing it as insensitive and lacking basic human compassion.
Bernard wrote:
“Using ‘equality’ as an excuse to be rude to a pregnant woman is heartless. Chivalry isn’t about superiority; it’s about empathy.”
Another user, known as The Professor, described the incident as “instant karma,” adding that equality should never replace basic decency.
Several commenters praised the storyteller for stepping in to help, stressing that empathy should always come before ideology, especially in situations involving visible distress.
The incident continues to trend across social media platforms, with many Nigerians arguing that while equality is important, kindness and compassion should not be negotiable, particularly in public spaces.
As of the time of this report, no video evidence of the incident has surfaced, and the identities of those involved remain unknown.
