Black man bullies special needs patient and his caretaker in SC restaurant over N-word use

A confrontation inside a Perkins restaurant in Summerville, South Carolina, is drawing national attention after a viral video appeared to show a black customer confronting what he believed was a young boy for using a racial slur. The individual in question, however, is a 22-year-old man with a rare genetic disorder.

The man, William Sharpe, is the son of retired WCSC-TV anchor Bill Sharpe, according to black activist outlet Atlanta Black Star. William reportedly has Costello Syndrome, a condition that can impair physical growth, cognitive development, and social understanding. His father has frequently shared videos of his daily life online, highlighting both challenges and moments of humor.



In the video circulating on social media, an unidentified Black customer recorded himself confronting William’s caretaker after hearing William say "n*gger" toward him. The man behind the camera assumed William was a child and challenged the caretaker about the slur.

“Make sure you tell your son to watch his mouth; he’s using derogatory terms,” the man said as the caretaker led William through the restaurant.

“He’s not my son. He’s special needs. We cannot make him stop saying it,” she responded, later explaining that he learned the word at school and that his family does not use that language.

The man filming pushed back, arguing that William knew enough to direct the slur at a black person. “So why is he using it against other people? He’s smart enough to know where to use the word at,” he said. The caretaker and the man attempt to walk out the door but are followed by the black man, who tells them that they are on camera. "You don't understand," the caretaker said, "his brain is not right." The man filming had no sympathy for the situation, saying he didn't need to understand.

"Leave me alone," the woman says, before the man demands she "get out of here."

The clip ends with a brief exchange in which William appears to say a phrase that some viewers interpreted as “Mickey Mouse,” while others believed he repeated the slur. The man filming then responded, “I see a midget,” a comment that generated its own criticism online.

The account that originally posted the video has since been deactivated, but copies continue to circulate. Reaction to the footage has been mixed. Some commenters argued that disability does not excuse harmful language, while others said the caretaker should have intervened more directly.

Many who follow the Sharpe family online expressed sympathy for William, noting his cognitive challenges and history of repeating phrases he hears from peers or in public settings. Supporters flooded Bill Sharpe’s social media accounts, insisting William meant no harm, with several commenters suggesting he had actually said “Mickey Mouse.”