Subway man creeps out everyone until a bold woman started laughing at him — then everyone else joined in

Many of us have that one courageous friend we secretly aspire to emulate—someone brave enough to stand up when things go terribly wrong. This was the case for a woman whose best friend, visiting her in New York City, became a symbol of courage during an unsettling subway ride. The New Yorker—who goes by u/After_Consequence177 on Reddit—shared how a "creepy" man on the A train passing through 125th Street caused unease among passengers with an offensive act. While most became uncomfortable and avoided eye contact with the man, her best friend stepped in to teach him an unforgettable lesson.

In her post, the woman recounted a disturbing subway journey that unexpectedly became an empowering moment for passengers. The occurred a few years ago when she was 22 and had her childhood best friend visiting her in NYC. “Anyone who has ever been to New York is probably familiar with how colorful the subway can be,” she wrote. Her best friend, described as extroverted and unapologetically outspoken, was visiting the city for the first time and was captivated by the lively subway scene—reveling in platform musicians, mariachi bands, breakdancers and more.

Sharing an example of her friend’s unshakable vibe, she recalled how during a trip to Queens, the women had crossed paths with a man on the Q train delivering the most awkward jokes through a child’s Mother Goose microphone and amp toy. “While I was deeply creeped out, my bestie was all energy and excitement,” she revealed.  "Nothing can faze her. Her vibe CANNOT be killed. This would prove to be Subway Creep's downfall," she added. Recounting the incident, she wrote, “It was around 8 p.m. on a Thursday, and bestie, me, and another friend of mine (also female) were on the train.” The nearly empty car held seven other passengers, including three solo women, an elderly mother and her adult daughter, an elderly man and the “Subway Creep.”

As the train pulled away from the 125th Street station, the creepy man exposed himself, engaging in inappropriate behavior that unsettled the passengers. "We’re all putting on the patented NYC ‘mind your own business,’ ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ attitude, but the disgust and unease are palpable," the woman explained. The tension in the car was evident, with everyone avoiding eye contact—everyone except her fearless best friend. Breaking the silence, her friend let out a loud, unapologetically mocking laugh aimed at the man. “It’s the kind of laugh that is probably copyrighted by either Cardi B or Megan Thee Stallion,” she noted.

The best friend, showing no trace of fear, shouted: “This [expletive] got his [expletive] out!” while pulling out her phone to record the subway creep. Her boldness prompted the man to fold into himself in shame, stripped of his power by her fearless laughter. “As he shrinks away, she urges, ‘Nah, why you shy now!? Keep going!’ He cannot possibly,” the woman recounted. Moments later, the train arrived at the 59th Street station, and the man bolted off in humiliation. The bold response uplifted the mood in the car, with several passengers, including the mother-daughter duo, chatting and laughing with the best friend. “She (the bestie) is an icon. She is my idol,” the woman concluded, sparking reactions. u/SyranAD commented, “I learned this tactic from Robin Williams: ‘Men cannot handle laughter; it is the mightiest sword.’” “Your friend’s tactic is one I use all the time. Do they want discomfort? Oh, I’ll give it to them in a way they weren’t expecting,” u/mossreander shared.