Fight at VivoCity lift lobby sparks debate about lift-taking etiquette

A viral video of a fight that broke out at a lift lobby at the VivoCity shopping mall on Dec. 1 has prompted spirited discussion online about lift-taking etiquette.

A social media post featuring the clip suggested that the fight was started when a man tried to help a wheelchair user enter the lift.

However, the man in the video explained that he had been helping to wheel his brother out of the lift, and said people outside did not give way.

He said one of them even challenged him to a fight when he accidentally knocked into them.

@summer88959Happened about an hour plus earlier (8.50pm) today at the ultra crowded vivocity... Fortunately quickly deescalated... (seems caused by the wheelchair guy can't enter the lift)♬ original sound - 夏天

The incident

Footage of the incident shared to Reddit showed a man with a backpack being held back by two other men at VivoCity's Basement 2 lift lobby.

He broke free and fell to the ground, along with one of the men, who was wearing a black cap.

As the man with the backpack got up, he grabbed a black tote bag from a woman in a rainbow shirt who was having an exchange with him.

The man then pressed the lift button before flinging the bag aside.

The woman can be heard saying, "Eh, this is my bag!"

She then shouted at the man as they pushed each other.

The woman then walked away while another man in a white shirt tried to calm the man down.

A shorter clip of the incident was reposted to TikTok.

The caption of the video indicated that the altercation took place at around 8:50pm on Dec. 1, and seemed to have started as the wheelchair user was not able to enter the lift.

It also said that the situation quickly de-escalated.

Lift-takers did not give way: Man with backpack

After the clip was circulated online, the man with the backpack provided his account of what happened in a TikTok video posted on Dec. 2.

@sureshvanaz VivoCity problem tonight I believe there's a beautiful story behind it where some idiots just post small stories come in front of me to challenge #VivoCity #sureshvanaz #seelanletch #caregivers #Malaysia #Singapore ♬ original sound - Suresh Vanaz

According to the man, Suresh Vanaz, he was in the lift with his brother, a wheelchair user.

After the lift doors opened, he exited backwards while pulling his brother's wheelchair.

While backing out, Suresh said he knocked into another man who scolded him for not looking, and challenged him to "come and settle" matters.

Suresh admitted that he got angry when he and his brother were "challenged".

Suresh said he gave the man his contact, but the man did not do likewise.

The man's wife also got involved and started "talking rubbish", Suresh said.

Called out user for sharing "edited" video

Suresh said it was not his first time encountering inconsiderate lift-taking behaviour in Singapore.

"When the lift door opens, give way. Give way to those who are taking care of the physically challenged," he said.

Suresh also criticised a user who posted the clip for sharing an "edited" version, though he did not elaborate on how the clip had been edited.

The original post, which was apparently made on the "Complaint Singapore" Facebook page, has been taken down as of Dec. 2.

Suresh also advised online users to be mindful when posting or sharing clips, saying it can be "unfair" to caregivers in Singapore.

Many users expressed their empathy for Suresh as a caregiver, with some sharing that they had also experienced inconsiderate lift-taking behaviour in Singapore.

Some opined, however, that Suresh should have kept a cool head in the situation.

Top image from Imgur & sureshvanaz/TikTok