‘Their flag is upside down’: Chicago woman visits Texas Roadhouse. What she spots outside leaves her doing a double-take

A Chicago woman named Robi Zwiener (@robi_zwiener) visited her local Texas Roadhouse and noticed something that caught her off guard; the Texas flag outside was displayed upside down. She filmed the moment and posted it online, where the video quickly gained over 726,600 views.

She did not hold back her reaction. “What kind of b—- is this? We’re at Texas Roadhouse, and their flag is upside down,” she said in the video, the BroBible reports.  According to the rules for displaying the Texas flag, when it is hung horizontally, the white stripe should be on top and the blue stripe should be on the observer’s left. 

When displayed vertically, the blue stripe should be at the top, with the white stripe still on the observer’s left. An upside-down flag is easy to spot once you know these guidelines. Flying a flag upside down is universally recognised as a signal of distress. After the video went viral on TikTok, viewers began sharing their own theories about what might be causing the restaurant’s so-called “distress.” Some joked that the location had run out of its famous bread rolls.

An upside-down flag carries a specific meaning that goes beyond a simple display mistake

Other viewers pointed out that the location is likely not actually in Texas. That may come as a surprise to some, but the very first Texas Roadhouse did not open in Texas at all. The original location opened in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993. 

Founder Kent Taylor wanted to serve “hand-cut steaks, tender ribs, cold beer, and hearty, scratch-made sides.” The company’s corporate headquarters is also based in Louisville, Kentucky. Texas has been in the news for other reasons too, including a recent case where a Texas city facing a water supply crisis made national headlines.

While flying a flag upside down is generally considered disrespectful, it is not illegal. Even so, it is fairly common for people to contact local authorities when they see a flag displayed incorrectly in their neighbourhood. Texas has also seen its share of shocking local incidents, such as a story about a brutal attack that ended in an unexpected shooting.

The accepted reasons for flying the Texas flag upside down include situations of serious distress or extreme danger to life or property. In recent years, flying the American flag upside down has also been used as a way to express political dissatisfaction. Historically, ships used the gesture to signal genuine distress to allies or enemies.

Flying a flag upside down as a form of political expression is actually protected under the First Amendment. This was established in 1931, when the Supreme Court struck down a California law that tried to ban the display of a red flag; an international symbol of Communism. The Court ruled that “expressive conduct” is considered a free speech right.