A bizarre incident at a bar in Melbourne has captured global attention after a chair thrown during a confrontation knocked out one of the participants. The event unfolded at Bar 20 on King Street on the evening of March 15, 2024, following an aggressive demand for a beer that escalated into chaos.
According to Bar 20 co-owner Michael Trimble, the trouble began when a patron demanded a bottle of VB (Victoria Bitter) in an inappropriate manner. Trimble recounted that the barmaid was about to serve the man when he shouted, “Just open the f-f–king beer.” This outburst prompted staff to call security, leading to an eight-minute struggle to remove the two men from the premises.
The incident began at approximately 9:20 p.m. when the two men entered Bar 20 and immediately displayed aggressive behavior towards the staff. Trimble noted that their demeanor raised concerns even before they had ordered drinks. Once the inappropriate demand was made, security was summoned to escort them out.
What should have been a routine ejection turned into a lengthy ordeal. “The whole incident went for about eight minutes,” Trimble explained. “Most people are out the door 30 seconds after being asked to leave. But this whole thing just went on for ages.” The men resisted leaving, leading to an increasingly volatile scene outside the bar.
Once on the street, one of the men briefly picked up a bollard, contemplating its use as a weapon before changing his mind. Meanwhile, the other man attempted to smooth things over by apologizing for his friend’s behavior. As he stood at the entrance, he was unaware of the chaos that his companion was causing nearby.
In a surprising turn of events, the man who was apologizing was struck by a chair thrown by his friend, who had raided a nearby Korean restaurant. Despite a staff member’s protest that the chair was their “top chair,” it was hurled towards the bar. The chair missed the intended target—security staff—and instead struck the apologetic man, knocking him unconscious.
The dramatic scene was captured on CCTV, quickly going viral and amassing over 27 million views within the first 24 hours. Trimble expressed his astonishment at the incident’s reach, stating, “I’ve seen plenty of instances of people making clowns of themselves in my 12 years in this industry. But nothing with the potential to go viral like that.”
In a light-hearted aftermath, the chair involved in the incident has taken on a new life as a piece of memorabilia. Trimble stated that it is now displayed in Bar 20, adorned with a shirt featuring the bar’s branding.
The identities of the two men involved remain unknown, but the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly situations can escalate in social settings. The blend of humor and chaos has not only entertained millions but also sparked conversations about behavior in public venues.
