Some things are sacred: the seared fat on a T-bone steak, gravy on mashed potatoes, and the Texas flag flying proudly over Texas Roadhouse. But when Robi Zwiener (@robi_zwiener) rolled up to her local Roadhouse, she found something distressingly wrong.
She doesn’t mince words or bury the lede: “What kind of b—- is this? We’re at Texas Roadhouse, and their flag is upside down,” she says.
Is The Flag Really Upside Down?
According to Texas Monthly, there are two correct ways to fly the Texas flag. “When displaying the flag horizontally, the white stripe must be on top, with the blue stripe to the observer’s left.” Then, when the flag is displayed vertically, “the blue stripe should be uppermost, and the white stripe should be to the observer’s left.”
Texas In Distress?
An upside-down flag has meaning, too. That same article notes an upside down flag means distress. So of course, of the 726,600 viewers, more than a few users weigh in with what exactly could be the cause of Texas Roadhouse’s distress—like maybe the location ran out of its coveted bread rolls.
Other viewers shared this was a clear telltale that the location isn’t in Texas. This may be surprising to some, but the first Texas Roadhouse wasn’t opened in Texas.
The first Roadhouse was opened in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993. It was dreamed up by founder Kent Taylor, who was hungry for “hand-cut steaks, tender ribs, cold beer, and hearty, scratch-made sides,” reports Chowhound.
Additionally, its corporate headquarters is located in Louisville, Kentucky.
What Happens If You Fly A Flag Upside Down?
While it is considered poor taste to fly the American flag or a state flag upside down—unless real distress is present—it’s not illegal. Despite this, Texas Monthly reports neighbors regularly call the authorities on one another, reporting flag-waving rule breakers.
So, when is it appropriate to fly the Texas flag upside down? Only in situations of dire distress or in instances of extreme danger to life or property. Though it’s a cry for actual help, in recent years, flying the American flag upside down has been used as a way to signal distress or unhappiness with presidential administrations. But it has roots in historical practices. Because ships’ flags were used to ascertain friend vs. foe, the practice of flying a flag upside down could signal real distress to allies or enemies.
Now, as an expression of political opinion, the ability to fly a flag upside down is considered protected speech under the First Amendment. This precedent was established in 1931 when a California law that prohibited individuals from raising a red flag—the international symbol of Communism—was struck down. The Supreme Court ruled “expressive conduct a free speech right.”
Beyond Texas pride, there’s no real reason to be up in arms over a flag hung wrong. The real problem? Now we’re stuck thinking about bread rolls.
BroBible reached out to Robi Zwiener via TikTok direct message and with a comment on her post. We will update this if she replies to us.