A Michigan man known as “Walt Z” has broken his silence after more than $400,000 has been raised for him and his family after a video of him being harassed at work by social media influencers went viral.
According to CBS Detroit, which obtained the video, Red Baron employee Walt Z was stocking a freezer when he was approached by influencers who asked him for the time. The interaction quickly took an unexpected turn when the influencers used an Apply Pay sound to make it appear as though they had taken money from him.
However, the prank didn’t go as planned, and Waltz’s reaction soon caught viewers’ attention online. Rather than the influencers getting the last laugh, Walt ended up receiving an outpouring of support, with a GoFundMe campaign now raising more than $400,000 for him and his family.
Red Baron Employee Breaks Silence After More than $400,000 Is Raised After Being Harassed By Influencers
The Red Baron employee who was harrassed by social media influencers who pretended to steal his money is finally breaking his silence after more than $400,000 was raised from a GoFundMe campaign.
“I wanted to take a moment to personally thank everyone who has donated, shared this fundraiser, or left a kind message. The kindness and encouragement you’ve shown me and my family have meant more than I can put into words,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“My family and I are doing well, and I’m grateful to have supportive people around me. I’ve been keeping things private to protect my family’s privacy, and I appreciate everyone respecting that,” he continued.
The employee, who goes by “Walt Z” shared that he is also considering speaking to the media to share his story. However, he noted, “I want to make sure it’s with people who will treat me and my family with care and respect our privacy.”
“Please know that even if I haven’t responded to your message or comment, your support has made a difference. From me and my family, thank you,” he added.
What Occurred That Led to the Red Baron Employee Going Viral?
CBS Detroit obtained the now-viral video of Walt, who is seen being filmed by social media influencers who approach him to ask him the time. However, things quickly go south when the influencers play a chime that mimics the Apple Pay sound, telling Walt they had taken $10 from him.
Walt, wearing a Red Baron shirt, doesn’t take the prank lightly. In the clip, he’s seen by the checkout area, telling the influencers, “I don’t have time for this crap; my life is hard enough as it is.” Walt becomes even more agitated and yells, “You’re making money off of this, and I can’t even pay my [expletive] mortgage, and I’ve got four kids at home.”
According to Local 12, the influencers tell Walt, “I’m sorry, bro, chill. We’re just filming a video. It was just a joke.” They are later asked to leave the store. In fact, the news outlet shared clips of the influencers having played the prank on several customers in the past.
An Arizona Man Launched the GoFundMe for Walt, Believing He Might Get Fired From His Job
After the video went viral, Luke Oakenshield, a resident of Arizona who didn’t know Walt, decided to launch the GoFundMe campaign for him and his family. He believed that Walt’s interaction with the influencers might have resulted in his employer firing him.
“Luke wants to help give this employee some breathing room while everything unfolds, especially so they can keep supporting their family and have some protection if they are fired. This fundraiser is about standing up for a working person who is busting their butt and should not have to fear losing stability because someone wanted content and clicks,” the fundraiser read.
According to CBS Detroit, the fundraiser was first set at $400,000 but quickly surpassed that amount, with the campaign now asking for $700,000 to help Walt and his family.
The social media account that shared the interaction with Walt is now deactivated. As for Walt, he got to keep his job, go home with a lot of money, and was even named Employee of the Month.
Red Baron Worker Speaks Out After Viral Influencer Prank Leads to $400K Fundraiser