Woman discovers two-way mirror in bathroom
A ladies' public restroom is meant to be a private space, protecting women from the prying eyes of men and peeping toms.
But a bar in the US appears to have forgotten a woman's unwavering right to go to the toilet in private.
A two-way mirror, which hangs in the ladies' bathroom at Cigars and Stripes, a barbeque restaurant in Illinois, was discovered by comic Tame Rocks when she went to pay a visit.
Immediately intrigued by the full-length mirror hanging on the door directly opposite the toilet, she decided to investigate.
When she opened the door, she found a secret closet hidden behind.
She then realised in horror that from the hidden cavity, which was large enough to stand inside, she was able to look through into the bathroom completely undetected.
A shocked Rocks recorded her findings, demonstrating that anyone on the other side of the door would have a full-length view of anyone sitting on the toilet.
She then posted the video to YouTube which went viral, attracting 700,000 views in less than 24 hours, and sparked a police probe.
"Why when I go into a bathroom, when there's an expectation of privacy, am I having to do that due diligence. It's a bathroom!" she told NBC.
Yet despite public outrage, the owner of the bar, Ronnie Lotz, was making no apology and has refused to take the 'long-standing' feature down.
"I will burn this f***** place to the ground before I get rid of that mirror," he told Gawker's Jezebel.
"Do you know how much joy that mirror has brought to us?"
"We used to hang a witch’s head in there so that the girls would pee,and they’d look into a dingy closet and be all weirded out" #stillnotok
— Tamale Rocks (@TamaleRocks) April 27, 2015
AGAIN, to reiterate, I am not against pervs. I am FOR consent.
— Tamale Rocks (@TamaleRocks) April 27, 2015
I guess I'll be relegated to establishments THAT DO NOT WATCH THEIR FEMALE PATRONS IN THE BATHROOM. #psthatisbetter @Infobahn
— Tamale Rocks (@TamaleRocks) April 27, 2015
He insisted the mirror was erected in 2001 and had been used as a Halloween prank.
"We're synonymous with Halloween. We do a freaky family fun day, and all the kids look in the mirror.
"This is a fun house, honey. If you don't like the two-way mirror then go f*** yourself."
Lotz again defended his choice of decoration on Monday night, telling US reporters: "This is a giant funhouse, ladies and gentlemen.
"I put a lot of heart and soul into this business, and I am sorry to tell you this, but there is no hanky panky going on in that bathroom."
