This brilliantly awkward blind date went viral because they had such different takes on how it went
Blind dates always make for good entertainment – not necessarily to go on yourself, you understand – but when a newspaper matches a couple and we get to read all about it afterwards.
But this one, well, this one was extra special, in Newcastle University’s student newspaper and shared online by a chap called Kieran.
It went viral because, well, let’s take a look.
So Newcastle Uni's student paper does a 'blind date' section and I thought from the guy's POV that it wasn't a good date but it wasn't terrible, then I read the girl's POV and yikes pic.twitter.com/uw7bYL4lA2
— Kieran (@kieranfb) January 2, 2019
The guy, Danny Tapper, said it felt awkward at first and admitted they had some ‘disagreements’ about politics but, overall, his date was a ‘nice person’.
“We were both interested in politics so we started talking about it and found that we had quite different views. I think the fact that we were both into politics meant that we talked about it but it was more a discussion than clashing… Just because we disagreed on a few things, it doesn’t take away from the fact I thought she was a nice person and was easy to talk to. I think we both saw there was just nothing romantic there, though.”
Cut to Sophia Kypriotis who had a slightly different take on how it went.
“I really don’t like to talk politics when I’ve just met someone and stayed as calm as I could and I tried to educate him on his rather misogynist views. He called feminism ‘toxic’ which allowed women to behave as ‘slags’. I found this very insulting and I was actually very offended… We definitely won’t be meeting again. I was shocked at his archaic, sexist views. I think it was pretty awful but he messaged me saying he had a pretty good time which I found confusing!”
And this is what people made of it online.
Oh my lord. How are schools still producing young men like this 😭
— Imraan Sathar (@imy) January 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/TamatiLaur/status/1080934471183069185
I get the feeling they're both going to be single a long time…
— Chris McVeigh (@Ally_Fraser) January 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/ImperialsSay/status/1080791990567124992
I feel personally victimized by what she said about pina coladas
— Kelly O' Neill (@kellyoneill90) January 3, 2019
And if you’re wondering, this is what she said.
‘If he were an alcoholic beverage, what would you say he would be? Probably a pina colada. unsophisticated and a bit embarrassing. Actually substitute ‘a bit’ for really.’
The guy on the date, Danny Tapper, later had this to say about the whole thing.
This blind date seems to have completely blown up and I would like to set the record straight on a couple of comments that have been misrepresented. Here is a twitlonger if you're interestedhttps://t.co/khcCWvKpka
— Danny Tapper (@tapper_danny) January 3, 2019
This blind date seems to have completely blown up and I would like to set the record straight on a couple of comments that have been misrepresented.
Firstly, I would like to point out that this article was written in bad faith. The friend that set me up on the date (who knew people working for the Courier) has recently told me that the date was actually set up as an “anti-date” as our profiles were completely doomed from the get go, and was set up to get a controversial story (which has clearly worked).
I also find it interesting that the Courier trawled my Facebook profile to find a three year old picture of me dressing up to go to my grandma’s 90th birthday to support their narrative that I am a “women-hating tory”. I did not supply that picture.
From the start of the date I asked Sophia what she wrote in her profile because I was interested to see what we had been matched on which she simply replied with – “no tories”. To this I raised my eyebrows because I found it strange that someone would completely write off another person based on their political beliefs. I think she noticed this and asked me if I was a Tory to which I responded that my beliefs were more right of centre than left, but I find it hard to support any party in the current political climate.
The quote in the newspaper “He called feminism “toxic” which allowed women to behave as “slags”” is completely untrue as I did not say this. In fact, I specifically remember saying to Sophia that I believe in equality of the sexes. We were talking about feminism and I was making the point that I don’t believe the feminist movement is the same as it was 100 years ago and nowadays it can have quite a toxic image.
It was clear that the date didn’t go well and we weren’t compatible, however I sent her a message in the morning saying I had a nice time and I hope she didn’t find it too awful. I also decided to write my answers to the Courier with a positive spin as it was just supposed to be a bit of fun. I would not wish her to be subject to the vilification that I have received.
WOW, tell us how you really feel Sophia. https://t.co/TLy3kRZYJ1
— Sue Hulk (@SUEHULK) January 3, 2019