Toni Tone thought she was in for a relaxing, luxurious escape when she set sail with her mother on a Virgin Voyages cruise in mid-June. But what was meant to be a dream vacation quickly turned ugly after what she calls “the most racist encounter” of her life.
Sharing the story on TikTok, the Black author from British recounted being targeted by a white couple while trying to enjoy the ship’s VIP area, known as “Richard’s Rooftop.”
She first noticed the couple, whom she dubbed “Chuck and Stephanie from Alberta”, when she was taking a photo of herself and her mother in the exclusive space. The man she called “Chuck” deliberately photobombed her picture, then immediately started grilling her about how she had access to the VIP section.
One of my fave online personalities Toni Tone was on a @VirginVoyages cruise and was racially bullied by two people apparently from Alberta in the US named Chuck And Stephanie. They look exactly like what you would expect lol.
Part 1 & 2 and their pictures attached. RT & Share pic.twitter.com/UUbC2Beop1
— Anne – Duchess Of Success (@TheDuchessZone) June 27, 2025
Things escalated quickly. Moments later, a cruise line employee approached Tone with an odd message; the couple had reported her for allegedly taking photos of them without permission.
When Tone explained the photobombing incident, the staff member reassured her he knew the complaint was bogus because he had seen the whole thing. But he still felt it was important to let her know about the accusation.
The couple, however, wasn’t done. Tone said the man then went to the bar and loudly demanded that staff kick her and her mother out of the rooftop area, falsely insisting they weren’t authorized to be there.
“He’s seething, absolutely seething that we have not been kicked out,” Tone said.
She also noted that she and her mother were the only Black people in the VIP section at the time.
At one point, Tone joined the hot tub where the couple was sitting, only for the woman to deliberately splash water in her face.
“I knew exactly what they were doing. They were trying to intentionally push me and antagonize me in a way that they hoped would garner a reaction from me, an outburst or a reaction that is so significant, it would then justify staff kicking me out,” Tone explained.
Then, things took an even nastier turn. The couple hurled insults at her and accused her of gaining free access to the VIP section by exchanging sexual favors with a Virgin employee.
“At this point in my mind, I’m like this man and his girlfriend or whatever – clearly racist. I’ve come to this conclusion because it’s the only thing that is making sense in my mind right now,” she said.
Despite the ordeal, Tone had high praise for the Virgin Voyages staff. She said they defended her and her mother’s right to be there when the couple complained again and even provided them with special VIP wristbands to help prevent further harassment.
“Shout out to Virgin staff because the way they dealt with that situation was great,” Tone shared. “The staff were absolutely amazing, but these two people, some of the most vile and immature human beings I’ve ever had the dishonor of coming across in my life.”
Tone is no stranger to the public eye. She’s the author of the best-selling book I Wish I Knew This Earlier: Lessons on Love and hosts the Toni Told Me Podcast, where she shares dating and relationship advice.
