A grocery store employee named Walter “Walt” Zerod became an unwitting internet figure after an Instagram prankster tested his patience during his work shift. Walt, who is a father of four and responsible for delivering and restocking frozen pizzas, was already tired when a content creator approached him with a prank. Instead of finding it amusing, Walt pointed out that he had more pressing concerns than being part of someone else’s video.
The incident, which gained attention online, took place in August at a grocery store in White Lake, Michigan, where Walt worked for the frozen pizza brand Red Baron. On that day, he was running behind schedule, having worked an extra hour to catch up. While he was checking the time on his phone, a prankster from the Instagram account @thea.ctiveworld, known as Three Of A Kind, pretended to steal money from him, claiming to take $10 after playing a sound imitating an Apple Pay transaction.
Walt, realizing he was being filmed, tried to walk away. However, the pranksters followed him to a checkout counter, where he expressed his frustration. He mentioned that he was already dealing with many challenges, including financial struggles and responsibilities at home, stating that he had to wake up early to visit more grocery stores the next day.
As people on social media reacted, many criticized the pranksters for their behavior toward a hardworking individual. Some viewers shared their empathy, noting the tough circumstances many face currently and the negative impact of such pranks on those who are already struggling. Others called for an end to monetizing entertainment that targets everyday workers.
The account of the pranksters was reportedly deactivated following the backlash. A stranger even extended support to Walt after the incident. Do you think pranks like this should be done at the expense of others?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Rocio Corsi