TikTok star Lizzie Cao abused by racist driver over carpark spot
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The extraordinarily petty reason why Chinese-Australian TikTok star was hit with a barrage of racist abuse that left her in tears and shaking
- Young Chinese-Australian woman left shocked after racist carpark encounter
- Lizzie Cao, 20, said another driver told her: ‘Just like this country, I got here first’
- She said motorist unleashed over a dispute over a parking spot in Sydney’s east
- Model and influencer said she had thought Australia was a multicultural country
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A young Chinese-Australian woman has been left shocked after a racist driver told she was entitled to her parking spot because she ‘arrived in the country first’.
Lizzie Cao, 20, was in a carpark in Maroubra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Saturday when she caught the attention of the angry motorist.
The model and influencer filmed a TikTok video just minutes after the harrowing experience and shows the camera her hands are still shaking.
‘Actually shaking… oh my god,’ she starts the video.
Ms Cao explained that while the woman had been waiting in the carpark longer she had been the first to claim the spot and had put her indicator on.
Lizzie Cao, 20, was in a carpark in Maroubra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Saturday when she caught the attention of the racist motorist
‘The lady who had been there waiting for a while starts driving up and puts her indicator on and I thought that was a bit weird,’ she says.
‘I saw the spot first and it was right behind me, so I thought I could have it.’
Ms Cao said as she began to reverse into the spot the woman drove up behind her and began to to beep her horn.
‘She pulls around and rolls her window down and I explain to her “hey, sorry I already put my indicator on, I was waiting for the spot first”,’ she says.
‘Then she proceeds to be like “I got here before you”.
‘I can’t believe she was like “just like this country I got here first.’
Looking visibly upset, the 20-year-old expressed her shock at the incident.
Ms Cao (pictured) said as she began to reverse into the spot the woman drove up behind her and began to to beep her horn before telling her: ‘Just like this country, I got here first’
‘I am Australian. My background is full Chinese but I just didn’t think in this day and age racism could hit so hard,’ she said.
‘It was just such a confronting experience.’
Ms Cao said she had opted to leave the space and look for another parking spot.
The young model, who has over 160,000 followers on TikTok, has been inundated with messages of support from viewers.
‘Australia is a multi-cultural country, I thought people knew better than to be racist,’ she captioned the video – which has since racked up over 80,000 views.
‘”I got here first” from where? why is it ok for her to be here and not for you?’ one woman commented.
‘Even though Australia is multicultural unfortunately Australians are not. I’m so sorry you had to go through that,’ a second wrote.
The young model (pictured after the carpark incident) has been inundated with messages of support from viewers
‘In my mind I thought a multi cultural country would have more exposure and celebrate differences more but maybe not,’ Ms Cao replied.
‘Oh no sis so sorry you went through this, I understand how it feels as an Aboriginal person. The discrimination in Australia is shocking,’ another said.
‘I’m so sorry that happened to you love. She shouldn’t of brought up nationality/ethnicity over a parking spot,’ a user commented.
Ms Cao thanked those who left a supportive comment on her video.
‘It means a lot to me that collectively we can see how hurtful racism is and how it needs to change,’ she said.