By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-19 03:29:17 | Updated at 2026-06-19 04:49:13
1 hour ago
A woke Colorado woman who stormed out of a local barbecue restaurant because it was playing the national anthem says she will never return.
Autum Trayler, 24, filmed her horrified reaction to the patriotic tune blaring inside Mission BBQ in Arvada.
'I'm not doing none of this,' said Trayler in the June 9 clip, which racked up nearly 8,000 views on TikTok.
'Help me,' she whispered as she gestured to the camera with a fist and mimicked choking herself out of disgust.
Trayler, of Denver, also wrote in her caption that she was not in a safe space and added that she felt 'scared.'
Mission BBQ proudly plays the national anthem every day at noon and prides itself on catering to veterans.
Trayler told the Daily Mail that despite staff treating her exceptionally well and the food being 'pretty good,' she would never return.
'Absolutely not,' said Trayler when asked if she would go back to Mission BBQ.
Autum Trayler, 24, says she will never return to Mission BBQ because it plays the national anthem
Trayler filmed her horrified reaction as the anthem was played in the Denver, Colorado eatery
'It's just a little too right-side leaning for me to feel comfortable supporting myself,' she said.
Trayler added that she believes people have the right not to stand for the national anthem.
The left-leaning Democrat noted that, in 'this political climate,' playing the national anthem labels an establishment as right-wing.
However, she said that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even those who disagreed with her video.
She also revealed that she has been inundated with threats since sharing the video online.
'I'm not going to rule the gavel down on anybody, but I mean, I received quite a few kind of crazy threats through my DMs and not the nicest comments over this,' she said.
'That was more scary than the actual TikTok itself.'
The restaurant plays the national anthem every day at noon in honor of its clientele who are predominantly veterans
Trayler, a Democrat, said the decision to play the anthem aligns the restaurant with right-wing politics
Users online were split, with many validating her reaction and others absolutely torching her for the response.
One user wrote on TikTok: 'Oh girl that's what Mission BBQ is all about I fear,' to which Trayler replied, 'Girl I went in completely blind.'
Another echoed her fear, writing: 'Oh I'm actually scared.'
A third added: 'My partner and I had the same reaction.'
Trayler liked several comments that condemned the restaurant for playing the national anthem.
However, many other users expressed confusion and outrage over why Autum would be so upset by the country's anthem.
'You don't want to hear the national anthem?' one user asked.
'I'm confused. I mean, not like you have to participate, but it's literally just the national anthem.'
Mission BBQ, a patriotic establishment that prides itself on catering to veterans. The barbecue chain also proudly plays the national anthem every day at noon
'God forbid people can express themselves,' another sarcastically noted.
'I'll be at Mission BBQ today. Thank you for showing a patriotic restaurant,' a third person said.
Mission BBQ is a chain of restaurants whose slogan is: 'Proudly serving those who serve.'
It opened on the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 and serves meals costing between $10 and $15.
'As the founders of MISSION BBQ, we strive every day to remind everyone what makes Our Country great—its heroes,' the website states.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Mission BBQ for comment.
