LONDON -- British reality dating show First Dates -- which revolves around a restaurant in London in which various couples meet for the first time to have dinner -- is usually a treasure trove of awkwardness, but Thursday night's episode took things to a whole other level.
The drama centred around a date between 30-year-old manager Elle and 38-year-old fireman Mark, both from London. Things seemed to be going okay until right at the very end of the date when the subject of paying for the meal came up -- and everything suddenly got very awkward, very fast.
"Oh, we need to pay the bill," said Elle, before moving the paper over to Mark's side of the table.
Mark then asked if she was giving the bill to him, and Elle replied by saying: "Of course I'm giving it to you. I never pay on dates, why would I?"
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Things quickly went downhill from there. Elle eventually offered Mark £30 ($46) toward the bill total (£136), before the two of them have a tense argument about the ethics of first date bill paying.
"Why wouldn't you split it?" asked Mark. "Because you're a woman?
"What, are we not equal? We're equal when you want us to be. No?"
Elle didn't look impressed, and in an interview after the date she gave her side.
"I'm just more used to not having to pay," she said. "Usually if I'm on a date, you get treated nicely. You get treated like a woman."
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This is how the date ended.
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The scene immediately sparked a discussion on social media about first date etiquette.
SO awkward… Should Marc and Elle have split the bill? RT = Yes / Fave = No #FirstDates pic.twitter.com/XMvDKvc2qG— First Dates (@C4FirstDates) October 15, 2015
@MerlinFDC4 @C4FirstDates true! but no girl should expect a man to pay it all!— Amelia Lowe (@AmeliaJordan92) October 15, 2015
@C4FirstDates It's a blind date. It'd be nice to be treated but I wouldn't expect a stranger to pay all.— || M A Z || (@maria_wba) October 15, 2015
@C4FirstDates you pay the bill if you actually like the person and it has potential...... No potential, money grabber..... Split the bill!— lisa davidson (@yayadavidson) October 15, 2015
A lot of people didn't like the fact that she expected him to pay.
How can u just expect him to pay the bill just because you're a girl lol what century do you live in #firstdates— SOPHIE (@SophiieMallard) October 15, 2015
NEVER acceptable to expect a man to pay for a date. Disgraceful #firstdates— BadDatesGoodStories (@Crouchi) October 15, 2015
And although some people did say they thought the man should pay...
Not gonna lie. I'm old school.. On a first date I think the man should pay the bill! #firstdates— SophieTheTrophy (@MissSophieH) October 15, 2015
I agree a guy should pay on the first date but FFS Elle took the piss I don't order than many drinks on a night out . #firstdates— Atem Kárl-Héinz (@MrJayBreezy) October 15, 2015
Should the man always get the bill for him and the lady on their first date?- YES THEY BLOODY SHOULD!!!!! #firstdates— Emily Jane Atack (@EmAtack) October 15, 2015
...The overwhelming majority of people went for the split option.
Just my opinion but you go halves on the bill. Don't expect someone else to pay. #firstdates— K (@Luckythumb) October 15, 2015
@C4FirstDates I hope the show paid him back for the bill. Horrible old fashioned values— Dominic Bell (@dominicbell15) October 15, 2015
#firstdates refusing to split the bill because you're a woman and used to being 'treated nicely on dates?' go home. Stay there.— Lauren Moore (@tell_me_moore) October 15, 2015
Regardless of whether the man should pay or not, if the girl doesn't at least offer to go halves it's really bad form #firstdates— SarahSmeara (@SarahSmeara) October 15, 2015