May 27, 2025 at 5:49 am

Stranger Commented That She Should “Smile More,” So This Woman Responded By Telling A Heartbreaking Story

by Heide Lazaro

Woman seriously walking on the street while holding a cup of coffee

Pexels/Reddit

Some people think they have the right to comment on how strangers look or feel.

How would you react if a stranger told you to smile? Would you take their advice, or would you be upset that they were trying to let you how to feel?

This woman was just trying to get through the day when a stranger told her that she should “smile more.”

She decided to respond with a story he wasn’t expecting.

Read the story below to find out what she said.

“You should smile more”

I was out running errands, lost in thought, and just trying to get through the day.

As I walked past a man, he looked at me and said:

“You should smile more. It would look much better on you.”

He said this with a stupid smile on his face like he was giving me genuine advice.

This woman gave the most unimaginable response.

I stopped, turned to him, and said:

“I just got back from identifying my sister’s body. She was murdered last night.”

The stranger couldn’t find the words to say.

His face went pale.

His mouth opened, then closed like he was searching for words.

But nothing came out.

He just nodded awkwardly and practically ran away.

She didn’t like how he tried to dictate what emotion she should have at that moment.

I don’t actually have a sister, but the entitlement some people have to dictate a stranger’s emotions is infuriating.

You have no idea what someone is dealing with, and assuming they owe you a smile is just ignorant and selfish.

Maybe next time, he’ll think twice before telling someone how they should feel.

That shut him up fast! People really shouldn’t tell other people how to feel.

Let’s read the reactions of other people to this story on Reddit.

This person shares a similar story.

Screenshot 2025 04 23 at 10.10.16 PM Stranger Commented That She Should Smile More, So This Woman Responded By Telling A Heartbreaking Story

This person shares their personal experience, too.

Screenshot 2025 04 24 at 8.52.13 AM Stranger Commented That She Should Smile More, So This Woman Responded By Telling A Heartbreaking Story

Here’s some honest thought from this person.

Screenshot 2025 04 23 at 10.11.38 PM Stranger Commented That She Should Smile More, So This Woman Responded By Telling A Heartbreaking Story

This person says someone pulled the same comment on them.

Screenshot 2025 04 23 at 10.12.27 PM Stranger Commented That She Should Smile More, So This Woman Responded By Telling A Heartbreaking Story

Finally, this user plans to borrow her response.

Screenshot 2025 04 23 at 10.13.34 PM e1745418810825 Stranger Commented That She Should Smile More, So This Woman Responded By Telling A Heartbreaking Story

You don’t owe anybody a smile.

If you liked that post, check out this story about a customer who insists that their credit card works, and finds out that isn’t the case.