Christina Najjar, a 33-year-old California social media influencer better known as “Tinx” on Instagram and TikTok, stirred up quite a conversation online when she shared her views on what she believes is proper birthday dinner etiquette in a TikTok video. Her take quickly became a hot topic, leading to a heated debate with some labeling her opinion as “unfair.” But what exactly happened? Let’s dive into the details.
The controversy began when Sean Lans, another TikTok content creator, recounted a personal experience that led to a falling out with a friend. In a nutshell, Sean decided not to attend a friend’s birthday dinner because it was at an expensive restaurant he couldn’t afford. Given his financial situation at the time, he opted to celebrate with his friend after the meal instead. However, his friend was upset with him for skipping the dinner, as Sean explained in his video.
Restaurants in new york are so expensive in general it’s actually crazy #nyc #birthdaydinner #storytime #gay #expensive #broke #fyp
♬ original sound – Sean
After Sean shared his story, he expressed that he felt it was “unfair” for someone to choose a “really expensive restaurant” for their birthday dinner. His video received a flood of comments, with many agreeing that while the birthday person can choose how to celebrate, it’s unreasonable to be upset if guests can’t afford to attend.
Some commenters pointed out that “friends who make you feel bad for being tight on money are not your friends.” However, this is where Christina Najjar’s controversial opinion came into play. Stitching her video with Sean’s, Najjar laid out her belief that the birthday person should cover the cost of everyone’s meal.
#stitch with @Sean Lans
♬ original sound – Tinx
Najjar explained, “If you invite a person to a restaurant of your choosing for your birthday, you should pay for everybody.” She addressed her millions of followers, insisting that it’s poor etiquette to pick a restaurant and then expect guests to cover their own expenses. “You can’t pick a restaurant and ask people to come and celebrate you and pay for themselves,” she said.
Najjar went further to criticize the practice of asking guests to split the cost of the birthday person’s meal. “If I invite a group of people somewhere to celebrate me, that’s my treat. I organized it and I’m expecting them to come,” she concluded. “To pick an expensive restaurant and expect everybody to pay, and then get mad when someone says they can’t afford it, is really bad manners.”
Her clip quickly went viral, sparking a polarizing discussion. Critics argued that traditional birthday etiquette in the United States suggests that friends should treat the birthday person, not the other way around. One detractor wrote, “I would never let MY friend pay for ME on THEIR birthday ever,” questioning the kind of friends who would agree with Najjar’s viewpoint. Others suggested that Najjar’s stance might be influenced by her financial means, allowing her to comfortably pay for everyone.
On the flip side, some people supported her stance. One commenter noted, “This is actual proper etiquette, but I find younger generations don’t abide by this.” Another agreed, sharing, “This is how I was raised—it feels strange to ask people to pay on my birthday!” For some, the matter comes down to cultural and personal upbringing.
Regardless of where you stand on this issue, one takeaway was commonly agreed upon in the comments on Sean’s original video. People should have the autonomy to decide how they wish to celebrate their birthday, be it treating their friends or splitting the bill. However, if plans include expenses, understanding and communication are key. A little grace and honest conversation about the costs can go a long way in avoiding hurt feelings and potential embarrassment.
