An Oklahoma father of two has spoken out after a confrontation at an Alabama service station restroom led another man to call police over his decision to bring his daughters into the women’s bathroom.
The incident involved Tyler Brodsky, who said he was traveling home from Florida with his young daughters when he stopped at a QuikTrip in Alabama. He explained that he chose not to use the men’s restroom because it was busy and in poor condition, and instead took his children into the women’s restroom after checking that it was empty.
Brodsky said he briefly announced that he was coming in with his daughters before entering. In the caption to the viral TikTok clip, he wrote: “This guy comes barging in yelling, scares my daughters, and somehow thinks THEY should’ve been in the men’s room instead.”
Brodsky appeared to try to explain himself to the man, who said his wife and mother-in-law were uncomfortable using the restroom while he was inside. But the exchange quickly escalated.
The man then phoned police while Brodsky was helping his daughters wash their hands.
“There is a man with his two little girls using the women’s bathroom. He is washing his hands with his daughters right now,” the caller can be heard telling officers.
According to Brodsky, police did not take issue with what he had done when they arrived at the scene.
In a follow-up video, Brodsky said the officers told him he was okay and that he had not done anything wrong. He also said one of the officers explained that the situation was not as simple as many online commenters were making it out to be.
Brodsky later said the incident has sparked a larger conversation about the lack of family restrooms in many public places. He argued that more businesses should make family-friendly facilities available so parents are not forced to choose between sending young children into busy restrooms alone or using a space that makes other customers uncomfortable.
“If we can get that into every establishment, that’s going to be huge, so other parents don’t have to experience what I went through with my kids,” he noted.
He has also launched a GoFundMe, saying part of the money raised will go to Melissa, an employee at the service station.
Brodsky said this was in “appreciation for everything she did” to calm the situation.
“The remaining funds will help support my family and allow me to continue advocating for more family restrooms through my petition and awareness efforts,” the statement explained.
He added that the donations would also help cover travel costs so he can continue commuting to see his daughters.