« Australians, I need you to tell me the truth right now, » she began.
She was shocked when an Aussie friend revealed that Emily committed the ultimate faux pas by referring to the man she was seeing as ‘champ’.
She said: « Last night, my Australian best friend and I were talking about words that are offensive in Australia that might not be offensive in America and vice versa.
« I’ve been seeing this guy for a while and I sent him a text that might have offended him. »
So what was the word in question?
She continued: « He’d been out drinking the night before so I sent him a message in the morning saying, ‘How are you feeling, champ?’.
« She told me that the word ‘champ’ is wildly offensive in Australia – and I thought she was taking the p**s. »
Emily then explained to her the word was a friendly term and was like « buddy », « pal », or « mate. »
Despite, Emily thinking she was being friendly the guy from Australia gave her a blunt response and said: « Please don’t call me that. »
She added: « In my American brain, I thought that was fine. Some guys don’t like to be called ‘champ’, ‘mate’, or ‘buddy’ by girls they’re seeing.
« I told my best friend this story and she told me that ‘champ’ was very offensive in Australia – but that’s not how I meant it. »
People weighed in on the faux pas she made and the meaning behind it.
One person explained: « Try being a bloke calling another bloke ‘champ’ at a pub. It’s a term used for kids and when you use it on another adult you’re undermining them. »
Another wrote: « Champ, chief, captain, pal, sport, and tiger are all seen as derogatory. »
A third said: « If you call a little kid « champ » it’s fine. If you call an adult « champ » you are being super patronising and picking a fight. »
However, some people jumped to Emily’s defence over the term and her being unaware.
One person wrote: « It’s not offensive. Some people are just offended by everything. Toughen up, cupcake. »
A second commented: « You friend is lieing. I use champ often. EG ‘G’day champ’. »
Another added: « I’m Aussie and today’s year old, when I learn champ is an offensive word!! I’ve been living under a rock it appears. »
