Local police said they have charged an Illinois driver who struck and killed a pedestrian while she was livestreaming on TikTok.
The New York Times reports that Tynesha McCarty-Wroten, who posts to TikTok under the name Tea Tyme, has been charged by the Zion Police Department with two felonies — reckless homicide and aggravated use of a communications device resulting in death.
In a video that has been reshared by other accounts on TikTok, woman posting as Tea Tyme can reportedly be seen speaking into her phone when there’s a loud thud. An offscreen child asks, “What was that?” then the woman replies, “I hit somebody.”
Surveillance videos reportedly showed McCarty-Wroten’s vehicle entering the intersection while the traffic light was still red, with investigators determining that she did not seem to slow down or change course before striking Darren Lucas, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
McCarty-Wroten’s lawyer told the NYT that evidence will show that “what happened was an accident, was a negligent act, but was not an intentional or reckless act.”
Imagine you’re snuggled up under your warmest blankets in the most comfortable position on your bed. As you slowly drift off into the land of dreams, it hits you like a ton of bricks: your bladder screams at you to empty it. Reluctantly, you dragged yourself to the bathroom to take care of it and returned to bed. Depending on the person, the inconvenience can make it difficult to fall back asleep. A full bladder has rudely awakened us during the night.
This is why a new hack is circulating online to prevent your bladder from disturbing your sleep: drinking Sprite Zero before bed.
What is the Zero Sprite bedtime trend?
According to We Got This Covered, former NFL coach Pratik Patel shared in September on X his method for preventing his bladder from disrupting his sleep. By cracking open a can of Sprite Zero before hitting the hay, he claims it prevents him from waking up to use the restroom. Because it contains sodium citrate, potassium citrate, carbonated water, and no caffeine, he calls it the formula for ‘elite hydration.’ Combined with his supplement PreSleep, the soft drink recipe aids him to ‘sleep like a zombie.’
Regardless, social media users quickly jumped on the bandwagon to participate in what is dubbed the ‘Sprite Zero sleep trails.’
Man questions the viral trick
TikTok creator Nick Komodina (@nickkomodina_official) discusses this with over 580,000 viewers. “OK, serious conversation,” he says, dragging a 20-oz Sprite Zero bottle. “Apparently, there is a thing that everybody’s squawking about that if you drink a Sprite Zero before bed, you do not get up to go pee.”
It may sound counterintuitive, since one way to reduce it is to limit fluid intake before bed, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, the ingredients are allegedly a formula for a melatonin dose. “Because it is the perfect balance of minerals and electrolytes. It’s 60 [milligrams] sodium, 180 [milligrams] potassium,” he explains, mentioning two of the ingredients.
Skeptical, the content creator wants to run a test. “I’m gonna drink this entire thing before bed tonight, and I’m gonna let you guys know,” Komodina concludes.
What did viewers think of this sleep hack?
The comments section quickly weighed in. Ultimately, many were not persuaded and demanded that Komodina post an update.
“9 [TikToks later,] we still don’t know the results,” one viewer remarked.
“Wellll any updates?” another asked.
In addition, others cited firsthand experience to debunk the method.
“You wake up with acid reflux first and then have to use [the bathroom],” one commenter shared.
“I’ve been drinking Sprite Zero for a long time. Still wake up to use the bathroom,” a second revealed.
“[Not ]true. I wake up a million times a night,” a third concurred.
Did the Sprite Zero hack work?
After viewers repeatedly demanded it, Komodina delivered the results the following morning. “All right, I just woke up. I drank a little more than half of this before bed last night,” he said in a video update, holding the same Sprite Zero bottle but half empty.
“I did eat dinner pretty late and I drink a lot of water. So, I think that did play a variable.” His bladder disrupted his sleep. “I did in fact wake up in the middle of the night and go pee,” he shared.
How does soda affect sleep?
Whether it has sugar or not, the Sleep Foundation advises against drinking soft drinks before bed. In addition to triggering the bladder, the carbonation in these beverages can cause bloating and acid reflux. So, a stomachache could interrupt your sleep, according to Real Simple.
Melody Heald is a culture writer. Her work can be found in Glitter Magazine, BUST Magazine, The Daily Dot, and more. You can email her at: [email protected]
A woman is facing backlash online after revealing she called an ambulance during a severe hangover. Many viewers argued the situation didn’t warrant emergency services and accused her of wasting resources.
In her initial clip, which has garnered over 936,300 views, TikToker Gia (@gia.marini) films herself with an IV in her arm, looking visibly unwell. “U guys ever have a hangover so bad u call 911,” she writes in the video’s text overlay.
According to Gia, the situation felt like a real emergency at the time. “In all seriousness i thought i was gonna die so…” she adds.
Netizens Have Zero Empathy
Viewers in the comments criticized Gia heavily, arguing that she wasted medical professionals’ time.
“No I’ve never wasted a bunch of EMT’s time because of my drinking. I normally take an advil and sleep it off like an adult,” wrote one person, getting over 17,700 likes.
“No because I don’t use resources I don’t actually need!” wrote another. “Hope this helps <3.”
Others questioned her condition at that moment. “But you’re sitting up and recording yourself?”
However, some comments were defending her decision to call 911.
“Paramedic here! She did what we would 100% advise a patient to do! She was worried, she got help, and she was ok,” wrote one person. “We have patients that call for a stubbed toe….I promise this woman calling because she physically could not get up off the floor is 100% valid. And we get paid by hour not by the triage level of a patient. I promise the medics are doing just fine that helped her.”
“I went to the ER bc I was hungover and was dry heaving at that point,” shared another commenter. “Turned out I needed three bags of fluids and my blood sugar was 47. I definitely wouldn’t have recovered on my own.”
Gia Shares More Details in a Follow-Up
After the backlash, Gia posted a second video explaining what actually led her to call 911.
She says she woke up on her bathroom floor after throwing up all night and into the next morning. “I couldn’t make it to the toilet. I was so weak,” she explains, adding that the vomiting continued until early afternoon.
Around 12:30 or 1 p.m., she says she started noticing new symptoms that scared her. Her hands begin tingling, then go numb. “My mouth was tingling, my legs were tingling, and I couldn’t move my body,” she says. She adds that her breathing becomes rapid and shallow, to the point where she could barely catch her breath.
At that point, she says she was curled up on the bathroom floor and panicking. “I’ve had bad hangovers, but nothing like this ever,” she says. “I was genuinely so scared.”
EMTs Were Reassuring
Gia admits she knows how dramatic it sounds, but she insists the fear felt real in the moment. “When I called 911, I literally said, ‘Please, I don’t want to die,’” she recalls. “I genuinely felt like I was dying.”
She says calling for help feels like the only option left. She doesn’t think she could have recovered without medical treatment. “I wouldn’t have been able to feel better without an IV, without Zofran or anything like that,” she says.
Throughout the experience, she keeps apologizing to the EMTs, worried she’s wasting their time. “I reiterated a million times, ‘I’m so sorry, this is stupid,’” she says. According to Gia, they shut that down immediately.
“They were very reassuring,” she explains. “They kept telling me I made the right call. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
She adds that the hospital staff echo the same thing once she’s admitted. “They reassured me that I wasn’t wasting anyone’s time,” she says. “You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes.”
At one point, Gia even wonders if something more serious might have caused her symptoms. “For a second, I thought maybe I was roofied,” she says, though she clarifies her blood work comes back normal. She later jokes that at least that would have explained what happened, before quickly adding, “That was a joke, by the way.”
By the end of the video, she’s back home trying to recover slowly. She’s sipping electrolyte drinks, sticking to liquids, and taking the day to rest. “It was just the freakiest thing ever,” she says. “I’ve never felt anything like that.”
From the symptoms she describes, such as vomiting that wouldn’t stop, rapid or irregular breathing, and feeling like she couldn’t catch her breath, it sounds like more than a typical hangover. Those are symptoms commonly associated with alcohol poisoning.
Healthline notes that signs like persistent vomiting, confusion, seizures, slowed or irregular breathing, and low body temperature are all valid reasons to call 911 immediately.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that in the U.S., calling an ambulance isn’t something people do casually. Emergency medical services come with a very real financial cost, and the person making that call is the one who has to live with the bill afterward.
In fact, according to a 2024 YouGov survey, 23% of Americans stated that they chose not to call an ambulance specifically because of its high cost.
On average, an ambulance ride in the U.S. costs around $1,366, making it one of the most expensive emergency transport systems in the world. In many European countries, including Germany and Spain, public emergency ambulance services are typically free in urgent situations.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Gia via email for comment.
Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.
Fake check scams remain one of the most common fraud tactics used against Americans, among many just like it.
In fact, in 2024 alone, the Federal Trade Commission reported $12.5 billion in losses tied to fraud. According to Bankrate, 34% of U.S. adults experienced some form of financial scam or fraud that same year.
One Florida TikToker says she learned that lesson the hard way after what she thought was an influencer opportunity turned out to be fraud.
In a TikTok video that has racked up more than 7,700 views, creator Melissa Nichole walks viewers through how a supposed jewelry brand contacted her was able to steal
What’s This ‘Influencer Scam That Involves Zelle?
“I feel like such a loser,” Melisa begins. “I was completely taken advantage [of].”
She explains that she had only started posting on TikTok about a month earlier, hoping to eventually make some extra income for her family. That’s when a jewelry brand reached out.
“They gave me all the compliments,” she says. “They told me they wanted me to promote their jewelry.”
She agrees, thinking it’s her first real opportunity. Shortly after, the company emails her two checks.
“I scanned them into my bank app, and it looked like it went through,” she explains.
Then came the scammer red flag. Her contact told her she needs to send money to a vendor so the jewelry can be shipped out.
“And guess what?” she says. “I sent it over Zelle like an [expletive] idiot.”
The checks never clear. “My bank did not give me my money back and said that I authorized this,” she claims.
She pauses before sharing the total. “I don’t even wanna say the number,” she admits. “I’m out $1,400.”
‘I Wanted to Believe’
The loss hits harder because of who she says scammers target.
She explains she was at work while filming the video and felt disoriented and distracted by what had just happened. Still, she chose to share the experience publicly as a warning.
“There was a part of me that knew it wasn’t right,” she admits. “But I wanted to believe.”
She says she won’t be responding to messages about the situation and plans to move forward more cautiously, trusting her instincts and verifying opportunities before agreeing to anything else.
“I won’t be responding to anybody,” she says. “I’m just going to make sure things are legit and trust my intuition.”
“I am so disgusted with myself,” she added in the caption. “The shame I feel right now is visceral.”
Can She Get Her Money Back from Zelle?
Once money is sent through Zelle, banks rarely reverse the transaction. That’s why consumer protection agencies stress reporting scams quickly, even if the money can’t be recovered.
The Federal Trade Commission urges victims of financial scams to file a report directly with them. These reports help track patterns and, in some cases, lead to broader enforcement actions.
If a fake check arrives by mail, victims can also contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. On the state level, attorneys general often handle consumer fraud complaints. In Florida, the office reports it has secured more than $565 million in total relief for residents, including over $426 million returned directly to consumers.
How to Protect Yourself from Fake Check Scams
Scams like this follow a familiar pattern, and spotting the warning signs early can prevent losses.
If someone sends you a check and asks you to send money back, whether through Zelle, wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, it’s a scam. Once that money leaves your account, it’s usually gone for good.
Legitimate companies don’t ask people to pay up front to receive prizes or opportunities. If you’re told to cover shipping, vendor fees, or processing costs with your own money, walk away.
And if a check is for more than expected, that’s another red flag. Scammers count on urgency and confusion to push people into acting before verifying details.
Many viewers focused less on judging Melissa and more on reminding her that scams like this can happen to anyone. One person wrote that she shouldn’t beat herself up, adding, “Galdam girl. youre not an idiot. just learn that hard lesson. people are [expletive]. trust noone.”
“Forget it you learned the lesson I sent somebody $2000 in bitcoin once,” one commenter admitted. “This $2000 today will probably be worth about $20,000.”
“My mom fell for a group crypto scam and lost her entire retirement and a personal loan, and also owes the IRS like 40k,” shared a third. “Did I mention her only income is 1800 SS check and now she has to work a 15$ an hr under the table job…. Basically traveling the world half the year to being old working 15$ an hour and having debt payments of 1000$ a month…. So your not doing too bad.”
Several commenters echoed that sentiment, stressing that intelligence doesn’t make someone immune. “I don’t care who you are everyone has been scammed,” another person wrote. “I’m very intelligent and I’ve been scammed horribly for more than that. Don’t beat yourself up. All you can do is move forward now and learn.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Melissa via TikTok direct messages and Instagram for further comment, and Zelle via email.
Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.
A woman stayed over at a guy’s house, only to find something odd in his cabinets. While snooping around the next morning, she noticed black hair sticking out of the container, making it a “hair cabinet.”
In a video with 816,000 views, Juliann (@spoicytiggy) pointed out how unusual the hair was. Viewers urged Juliann to get out of the house before anything suspicious or dangerous occurred.
Safety concerns—why is it unsafe to be in a house with hair cabinets?
Many viewers had safety concerns about the hair cabinet, recommending that Juliann leave or even call the police to investigate the matter. In similar stories, pinning up strands of hair on walls gave people “serial killer” vibes. Similarly, some hair sticking out of a cabinet gave many viewers the creeps. Since she asked whether she should ‘leave’ in her video’s on-screen text, viewers also theorized that Juliann did not feel safe and thought there was something off about the man.
That led some to conclude that the hair cabinet may have had human hair in it. “Well why didn’t you look or call the cops though like,” said one viewer. “You can still call and say it smelled funny and looked like there was possibly human hair in the cupboard!”
Others mentioned that leaving would be the best option. If you ever get to a point where you are questioning ‘should I leave,’ don’t question it,” a commenter shared. “Just leave. second thoughts get a person killed. better safe then sorry.”
“If you were really in danger he wouldn’t have let you leave,” added one other viewer. Juliann agreed, replying, “That’s the mindset!”
Is the hair from an animal?
Other commenters theorized that the fur came from an animal instead of a human being. It made the situation seem a little less perilous, although some remained cautious of the hair cabinet.
One person commented, “I would’ve opened it quietly cause you never know and if it were a worst-case scenario then at least I would know for a fact and possibly save the next life by telling the cops. [Though], by the way it looks it looks like animal fur.”
“Kitty likes to hide in the cabinet when [expletives] be visiting,” commented another viewer. Others agreed, saying, “The texture and the fact that it’s a cabinet makes me wonder if a kitty might be hiding in there but [I don’t know].”
To many, it would be worth asking the man whether or not he has any pets or, if anything, snooping for a pet bowl by looking around at the floor. Juliann, however, did not confirm in the comments section whether it was.
But others had even more innocuous expectations, saying that the man might just have a particularly “human-y” broom or a wig of some sort. It is more common than many think for men to wear toupees, which have made an unexpected “comeback” in 2025. Likewise, men who engage in costuming as a hobby or even have their Halloween outfits shoved into random cabinets may have stray hairs from their various parties, social gatherings and adventures.
Another theorized it might’ve been a doll’s head, saying, “I’m a hairstylist and have doll heads in random areas at home. They freak me out when I forget about them shoved somewhere. I don’t keep [them] in cabinets though.”
So, there’s ultimately a variety of non-perilous options as to what the man was keeping. Either way, it did seem to confuse Juliann, who didn’t look inside the cabinet to discover what was lurking.
We’ve reached out to Juliann via TikTok direct message.
If you’ve been living anywhere other than under a rock this year, there’s a one hundred percent chance that you’ve heard of Sabrina Carpenter! In just a few short years, we’ve gotten to watch an artist we’ve loved for years blossom into a full-blown pop star, and 2025 was the biggest year of them all! From being on SNL, to winning big at the Grammys (and being nominated again) to releasing Man’s Best Friend, there was no stopping Sabrina Carpenter this year! When looking back at Sabrina’s list of accomplishments this year, we knew we had to break down some of the biggest and best for you!
Let’s jump in!
Man’s Best Friend
We say this with complete confidence, Man’s Best Friend is one of the best pop albums of the last decade! And we don’t even think that’s a hot take because we’ve watched the general public fall as in love with this record as we, career-long fans, have. The witty songwriting, the visual storytelling, the vocals, and the elements Sabrina continuously excels at are heightened even further here on this record. From ‘Manchild,’ which has been inescapable, to some of our favorites, ‘Go Go Juice,’ and ‘House Tour,’ there is no doubt in our mind that Man’s Best Friend will have a long, ever-evolving life with fans.
Grammy Awards
The Grammys are one of those accomplishments that artists spend their whole careers chasing, that hold meaning for their nominees, and for fans alike. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Sabrina Carpenter took home two (!!!!) awards, and has already scored six nominations for the 2026 ceremony! That is the direct result of over a decade of hard work and dedication to mastering her craft.
Variety Hitmaker Of The Year
Much like the Grammy Awards, being named Hitmaker of the Year comes on the heels of hard work. What sets this honor apart is that being a “Hitmaker” in such a pop-saturated market takes a deep understanding of what a “pop” song entails, and how to catch lightning in a bottle time after time. From ‘Espresso’ and ‘Manchild’ to ‘Nonsense,’ Sabrina’s deep understanding of this concept just keeps growing.
Saturday Night Live
SNLis a true rite of passage for creatives throughout the entertainment industry, and Sabrina pulled off three appearances this year alone! And even more impressively, one of these appearances included the double duty of hosting and performing! These appearances reminded so many people that Sabrina is an actress! Her comedic timing is impeccable, and she also happens to have an incredible voice and is a master storyteller.
Check out more of our year-end/holiday content here!
We would love to hear from you! What was your favorite Sabrina Carpenter moment from 2025? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Social media star Tynesha McCarty-Wroten, better known online as Tea Tyme, is facing serious legal trouble after authorities say she allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian while livestreaming her drive through a Chicago suburb in November. Now, the shocking incident has left the internet buzzing, with many questioning the role of livestreaming in real-time tragedies.
TikTok Livestream Leads To Arrest In Fatal Hit-And-Run
According to the Zion Police Department, Tynesha McCarty-Wroten was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 23, in connection with the death of 59-year-old Darren Lucas, who was walking home from his grocery store shift in Zion, Illinois, on Nov. 3. Authorities say numerous tips from the public led investigators to a TikTok video showing McCarty-Wroten livestreaming at the time of the crash. Forensic analysis confirmed the video’s timestamp matched the time of the fatal incident.
Video Shows Moment Tea Tyme Allegedly Struck Victim
Furthermore, the Lake County State Attorney’s Office has charged McCarty-Wroten with reckless homicide and aggravated use of an electronic communication device. Police said she was arrested almost immediately after a warrant was issued. It was even noted that she had been seen attempting to leave her home with packed bags. Additionally, authorities confirmed an 8-year-old minor was in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Details of the case reveal that Lucas was crossing an intersection when McCarty-Wroten’s vehicle struck him. Despite her claims to police that she thought she had a green light, investigators allege the car ran a red light near the speed limit and made no attempt to slow or avoid the impact. First responders rushed Lucas to Vista Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The controversy surrounding Tea Tyme didn’t end there. Reports say she hosted another livestream just days after Lucas’ death, asking followers for donations to take a “mental leave” from content creation, sparking widespread outrage across social media and adding fuel to the ongoing debate about responsibility and accountability in the age of live-streamed content.
Anyone who has flown overnight knows it can be difficult to fall asleep. The usual squished seating between passengers at 30,000 feet, traveling in a different time zone, can throw off the circadian rhythm. Typically, attempt to relax their minds by scrolling through the internet, reading a novel, watching shows and movies, or catching up on mundane tasks.
When sleeplessness struck at 3am for one woman’s seatmate, it shocked her enough that she filmed it.
What was this airline passenger doing?
In a 15-second video, TikTok creator @twotravelingtastebuds records her male seatmate opening a piece of mail among the mountain pile on his tray table, using the TV screen brightness as a nightlight on her flight. After he tears open the envelope, he pulls out the letter with a slight hiss.
According to the text overlay, he was ripping and tearing through his mail for some time. “When it’s 3 AM and the guy in your row decides to open all of his mail FOR OVER AN HOUR,” she writes. To prove it, the content creator shifts the camera to her screen, revealing the time as 3:30 am local time.
@twotravelingtastebuds elaborates more in the caption, writing, “When it’s 3 am in the morning and the guy in your row decides to open what has to be 6 months worth of mail by hand! It took him over an hour to review all of his mail, pretty sure he was doing a social experiment at this point lol.”
The content creator never names the airline.
What did viewers say?
The video garnered 39,000 views. In the comments section, viewers were at a loss for words.
“Wait that’s an insane use of free will,” one viewer commented.
“This is his version of deleting photos from the camera roll,” another joked.
“The idea of carrying all that on and off the plane is wild to me,” a third remarked.
However, some were inspired by @twotravelingtastebuds’s seatmate’s idea and planned to use it during their next flight.
“I have a 7 hour flight tmrw and haven’t opened my mailbox in over 2 months. Thank you for this idea,” one commenter remarked.
“Wait I have flight anxiety this might actually be a good distraction for me,” a second stated.
Tips to help fall asleep on an overnight flight
Regardless of how exhausted we are, some people struggle to doze off as soon as the plane takes off. In addition to eyemasks and noise-canceling headphones, there are ways to get some shut-eye before boarding. Yahoo shares methods that can be done at the airport to prepare:
Melody Heald is a culture writer. Her work can be found in Glitter Magazine, BUST Magazine, The Daily Dot, and more. You can email her at: [email protected]
A woman sparked discussion on TikTok after she shared a disturbing experience inside an H&M fitting room in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In her video, she claimed someone recorded her while she was trying on clothes. As the clip circulated, many viewers shifted their focus to the mall itself, saying similar incidents and other crimes have been happening there for years.
‘I Look Up, and There’s a Phone…’
TikTok creator Emily (@emmalee.richard) posted a storytime that has since pulled in more than 82,000 views. She explains that the incident happened during what was supposed to be a quick stop at SouthPark Mall.
Emily says she went to H&M to make a return and ended up grabbing a few items to try on. She wasn’t in the store long and admits she wasn’t paying as much attention as she normally would. “Usually I’m hyper aware of people around me,” she says, explaining that she’s normally cautious in public spaces. That day, she was rushing and distracted.
While changing, she says something alarming happened. “I’m in the changing room and fully unclothed, and I look up, and there’s a phone and a hand leaning over the stall into my changing room,” she says. The phone appeared to be actively recording her.
She immediately yelled and turned to grab her clothes. By the time she reacted, the person had disappeared. She says she never saw a face, only a hand and a phone. “It happened so fast,” she explains, adding that she couldn’t even remember the color of the phone case afterward.
Emily ran straight to the fitting room attendant to report what happened. The attendant checked the stall next to hers, but whoever had been there was already gone. When asked whether anyone had just left the fitting room area, the attendant confirmed that a man had exited moments earlier.
At that point, Emily says fear took over. She describes standing in a crowded mall, knowing the person could be anywhere. “It could be anyone,” she says. “Male, female, literally anyone just in plain sight.”
Mall security eventually arrived, took her statement, and escorted her to her car. While she says security staff were empathetic, she felt unsettled by how quickly the situation ended. “I don’t feel like enough was done,” she says, explaining that she plans to file a police report.
In the comments, people shared similar concerns—both about H&M fitting rooms and SouthPark Mall as a whole.
“The H&M dressing rooms are actually so unsafe. Curtains instead of a door should be illegal,” one person wrote.
Emily herself commented that she had documented the incident with police, mall management, and H&M corporate. “I’m not sensing any urgency,” she wrote, adding that she planned to keep following up.
Others claimed the mall has a pattern of incidents that don’t always make the news. “The news won’t report crimes that happen at SouthPark because they don’t want people to be afraid to shop there,” one person alleged.
Another commenter shared a personal experience: “I worked at SouthPark Mall at Nordstrom. My last day was when a man pulled a gun on me.”
What’s Going On at SouthPark Mall?
Local reports show that police have made multiple arrests at SouthPark Mall in recent weeks, including several for theft-related offenses. Officers recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise during a targeted operation at the mall earlier this month.
The area has also seen more serious crimes in the past, including armed robberies that left shoppers shaken. Commenters noted that SouthPark isn’t alone; other Charlotte malls have dealt with similar issues, reflecting broader concerns about crime in the city.
@emmalee.richard The thought of someone having pictures or videos of me will keep me up at night and truly makes my skin crawl. I’m sure I’m not this persons first victim but I wonder if the others are aware. Be safe everyone, and tbh just don’t go in changing rooms alone @H&M @southparkmall ♬ original sound – Emily not Richard
What To Do If This Happens To You
Recording someone without consent in a private space like a fitting room can fall under video voyeurism laws, which treat these incidents as serious criminal offenses. These laws exist to protect people from being secretly recorded while in vulnerable situations.
If something like this happens, experts advise contacting law enforcement immediately and giving as much detail as possible. Many malls rely heavily on surveillance cameras, which can help investigators retrace what happened if action is taken quickly.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Emily via TikTok messages and to H&M via email for comment.
Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.
With grocery prices climbing year after year, a Walmart gift card can feel like one of the most practical gifts you can give a family.
You can buy food, household basics, school supplies, pretty much anything under one roof.
That was the thinking behind one New York woman’s Thanksgiving gift to her neighbors in Tampa. She wanted to help ease the pressure heading into the holidays.
Instead, she says the gift turned into a weeks-long mess involving broken systems, endless phone calls, and a $500 balance that no one could actually use.
TikTok creator Claire (@claireinnyc) shared the situation in a video that’s now passed 274,700 views, addressing Walmart directly and calling the ordeal “war.”
What Went Wrong with the Walmart Gift Card?
In the video, Claire explains that she bought her neighbors a $500 Walmart gift card around Thanksgiving. She says the family has several children living in the household and works hard, often helping her out by taking in packages and lending a hand when needed.
Before buying the card, she asked where they usually shop for groceries. “Walmart would be perfect,” they told her.
So she purchased the card electronically and sent it over. That’s where things started to fall apart.
Her neighbor went straight to Walmart to use the gift card for Thanksgiving groceries and was told it wouldn’t work. The system rejected it, flagging the expiration date, which showed a year far in the future, something like 2037. According to store employees, there was a maximum expiration window that the register would accept.
Stuck in line with groceries they needed for Thanksgiving, her neighbor paid out of pocket.
Claire says she immediately sent money to cover the cost. “I’m not a complete a******,” she says in the video. “He went there because I provided a gift.”
At that point, she figured it was a mistake Walmart could easily fix.
Walmart Customer Support Allegedly Wasn’t Helpful
Claire says she started calling Walmart customer service and was quickly bounced between departments. The general support line sent her to the gift card line. The gift card line sent her to Mastercard. Mastercard sent her back to Walmart.
Eventually, someone told her the card was a Walmart Mastercard, not a standard gift card, and that incorrect information had been entered when it was issued. Because of that, the card could no longer be used online, added to Apple Pay, or used digitally at all.
The only option, she was told, was to use it in-store. So they tried again, and it still didn’t work.
The expiration date continued to block the card, and no store could override it. Despite the balance still showing $500, no one could access the funds.
“I can see the gift card. I can see the balance,” Claire says. “But no one can use it.”
When she asked if the card could be reported as lost or stolen and reissued, she was told no. According to Claire, Walmart told her that once an electronic gift card is issued, the purchaser waives their rights to a replacement.
“That cannot be acceptable,” she says. “You sold me something that cannot be used.”
Viewers were stunned that a major retailer could let a situation drag on for so long.
“Why can’t they just cancel the card and give you a refund?” one person wrote.
Another added, “Surely they should just cancel the card and provide a replacement.”
Others focused on the bigger picture. “Imagine all the money they bank each year on unusable cards,” one commenter said. “They probably hope people give up.”
Suspicious Activity Adds to the Frustration
In a follow-up video, Claire shares another unsettling detail. While checking the balance on the unusable gift card, she noticed multiple attempted transactions, none of which she or her neighbors had made.
She says the card showed declined attempts in St. Louis, Atlanta, two locations in California, and even Amsterdam. One charge for 99 cents appeared to go through.
Claire says this raised even more questions, especially since the card was never physically lost and never worked in the first place.
As it turns out, this isn’t an isolated incident. One Facebook user claimed their sister’s gift card was hacked, drained, and never refunded. Fox 4 Dallas–Fort Worth has also reported cases where customers never received their gift cards or their money back.
Claire says that wasn’t ultimately her outcome. In a later update, she shared that Walmart eventually sent her a check for the full $500, resolving the situation after weeks of back-and-forth.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Walmart via its contact form and to Claire via email for comment.
Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.
First dates in 2025 are already a gamble, but no one expects their breadstick companion to pull a full Irish goodbye smack in the middle of eating. At an Olive Garden, of all places, one man “went to the bathroom” and instead exited the building. What stayed behind was his date, the dish of salad, and the entire main course. Luckily, while modern dating continues to spiral, the servers stepped in and proved that while chivalry may be dead for some men, it’s still alive in Olive Garden.
Lila’s Disastrous First Date
As the 2025 dating scene comes to a close, Lila (@48.lila) throws a new hat into the ring. Apparently, it can get worse before the year ends. Her short 11-second clip with 5.1 million views proves it. Even more telling, it has over 3,000 comments. The clip begins with Lila’s face overtaking most of the view until she switches the camera and shows her current status. In front of her shows a table in the midst of dining. Except, it also shows that the other side of the booth is completely empty.
One can tell someone is missing because the entrée looks half-eaten. Lila shows all the food, including breadsticks and salads, then switches the camera again and puts her hand to her forehead. The text overlay reads: “Was on a first date. Said he had to use the bathroom as I watched him walk out the front door…I’m traumatized I never thought this happened in real life.” Part of her caption also states, “And to top it off he was so odd and rude to the server from the beginning.”
What did Olive Garden Server Do?
Luckily for Lila, Olive Garden stepped up to the task. While some would view Lila with pity, the Olive Garden employees saw someone to protect. The other half of the caption says, “Thank you Olive Garden for not making me pay for his food and my server being so sweet and another one for walking me to my car. What a Sunday night.”
In a more interesting turn of events, one of those alleged employees viewed the TikTok and commented. Bryna Mullis wrote, “Girl I was literally bartending that night and the whole staff was talking sh-t about him and hyping you up. I’m glad you got home safe! That’s all that matters. As I said, we all love you here girl!”
Lila replies, “Omg this means the world to me everyone was so sweet and thank you to every one of you. truly just gotta laugh about it.”
@48.lila And to top it off he was so odd and rude to the server from the beginning. Thank you Olive Garden for not making me pay for his food and my server being so sweet and another one for walking me to my car. What a Sunday night #stoodup#feverdream#fyp#datingishard♬ I’ve Seen It – Olivia Dean
Viewers Rally Against the Guy…Or Do They?
Lila’s viewers leave a mixed bag of opinions in the comments section. Some, for example, criticize the man’s manner of leaving. One of the top comments says, “Who is raising these men??!! Because I have questions!!!!” Another says, “WTF!!!!! You are so beautiful, he is a [expletive] loser.”
A third viewer states, “He ordered food then left you with the bill too?! ….wow.”
Others come and judge Lila for how she dressed on the date. One viewer says, “Why’d you wear a hoodie on a first date to Olive Garden.” To which another viewer replies, “Because it’s olive garden… y’all acting like she went to a michelin star restaurant.”
In a slightly different tangent, other viewers give their own speculations about the situation. One viewer says, “He prob had no money to pay. Lol.” A second one says, “REJECTION IS PROTECTION AND REDIRECTION THANK THE UNIVERSE.”
Lastly, some viewers commend Olive Garden for their service that night. One viewer shares, “solidifying olive garden as the superior chain.” Another adds, “They walked you to your car?! They truly wanted to make sure you were safe!”
The Mary Sue has covered similar stories where first dates have gone awry. For example, the time a man made his first date pay for all the drinks, even if they weren’t hers. We reached out to Lila via TikTok direct message.
Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].
A woman has gone viral after her Kroger-based rant didn’t land exactly as she expected it to. In the clip, which has amassed 1.3 million views, Keiosha (@keiosha016) shops in Kroger alongside her husband and baby.
“You would not believe the audacity some people have,” she begins.
The TikToker then explains how she was shopping with her husband when a woman asked him to reach something for her from the top shelf.
“I look at them. I look at him. He looks at me. He said, ‘Boo!’ The fact that he knew he needed permission, and the fact that they thought they could just ask him, and he was gonna move for them, the audacity,” she said.
Keiosha continued, “If you are in the store, married or single by yourself, and you need help, and you notice that the man that you got to ask help from is with a woman, he correct thing to say is, ‘Excuse me, ma’am, is it OK if your husband can help me get something from the shelf?””
She then claimed that, by asking him, the shopper put her husband in a “weird situation.”
“He didn’t flinch, he didn’t move. He looked at me, ‘Boo,’ and we both knew what that ‘Boo’ meant, so… But have a good day,” she said.
However, commenters didn’t agree with the TikToker’s approach.
“Both of yall goofy!” one wrote. “And you bored. This the highlight of your goofy ass day.”
“May my self-esteem never get this low,” another added. While a third quipped: “You definitely pay every bill.”
A fourth remarked that “this level of insecurity is so unhealthy,” while a fifth concurred: “He was scared because he know you insecure.”
Elsewhere, a sixth asked whether it’s “really that serious,” to which Keiosha replied, “It may not be to some, but to us…. it’s EVERYTHING! We respect each other and create boundaries for others.”
Several other commenters also mocked Keiosha and her husband’s appearance.
Keiosha didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment.
Other TikTokers shared their takes
Keiosha soon became immortalized as the ‘Kroger lady,’ with several TikTokers stitching or otherwise posting their hot takes on her situation.
“I pray that I never be or become that insecure,” TikToker Danni (@dannirokz) said. “If I’m with my husband in a store and somebody comes up and says, ‘Oh, can you reach that?’ He doesn’t got to look at me Good. That’s the kind of man I know he is. I know he’s gonna help. You know, you need to reach it. Like, that’s fine. That’s the kind of man he was raised to be.”
“If his mama found out he didn’t help and it was that, it would be a problem. No,” they continued. “But you thought people were gonna agree with you. And now they’re chewing you up. And, you know? I’m kind of with them.”
In her own video, fellow TikTok user Candi (@candi3_commentary) added, “Lady, you know how goddamn insecure you have to be? Nobody wants your man but you: it’s a box of cereal. It’s just like a given rule that when someone is taller, they assist people. It’s just called being. A nice person. It has nothing to do with wanting your man. Y’all gotta stop.”
Some defend her
However, not all TikTokers disagreed with Keiosha. Some, like Hailey (@haileystel), adopted a middle ground.
“All I know is that, if I’m in the grocery store with my man, and someone taps me on the shoulder and says, ‘Ma’am, is it OK if your man helps me get something off that top shelf?’ Why the [expletive] are you asking me? You don’t see this grown-[expletive] man standing right next to me? Do I look like his mother? His caregiver? His timekeeper? No. I barely know that I’m at a grocery store, OK? I blindly follow wherever that man leads.”
“If you do ask my man, and he declines and says that he cannot help you, we still gonna have a problem,” she added. “Because why are you not helping this lady get something off the higher shelf at the grocery store?”
However, at the same time, she noted how “that man knew that if he did not acknowledge his wife when that lady acknowledged him, that it was going to be a problem. He knows his wife. He knows the boundaries that she has and that’s OK.”
Danni, Candi, and Hailey didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment.
Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.
Somewhere between takeoff and landing, Row 14 Seat C apparently turned into a confessional booth. One Miami-to-L.A. flight gave a woman front-row seats to a man casually detailing his creative system for hiding other women’s phone numbers from his girlfriend.
Of course, being the girl’s girl that she is, she decided the group chat deserved to hear it too. Names were named (down to the seat), secrets were spilled, and TikTok was left to do what it does best: connect the dots and wonder who just got exposed at 30,000 feet.
He Does What?
It seems the 2025 dating scene is down in the dumps. Aside from dating app horror stories, some men are becoming increasingly confident sharing their favorite tips on how to be a Bad Boyfriend. This one TikTok creator, who goes by @nostolgicgirly, just revealed a new cheating strategy.
Her clip now has 1.9 million views, a high number considering it’s just a six-second clip. The video shows her sitting in a plane with the text overlay reading, “If your boyfriend or husband was on american airlines flight 2689 miami to los angeles, row 14 seat c, he spent the entire flight telling his friend how he saves other girls’ numbers under ‘gym bro’, ‘work client’, and even ‘cousin’ so you won’t notice anything.”
Almost 700 viewers have come together under the clip to rally against the mentioned boyfriend.
Is This an Ad… Or is it Real?
In the caption, the woman says, “and Reclip just reminded me that I accidentally recorded half of it without even realizing.” Upon further investigation, most–if not all–of her videos feature Reclip as an important tool in her stories. Some of her clips focus on her own marriage, in which she says she discovered her husband cheating by using said app. But what even is the app to begin with?
On their website, the social media app is described as “captur[ing] moments that are impossible to catch with any other app, because only Reclip saves things after they happen. So the next time something crazy just happened, don’t tell your friends about it later. Clip it, and share the real thing with Reclip.”
This is exactly what the TikTok creator says she does in all her videos. Her stories all feature an outlandish scenario, such as her recording her husband’s phone call with his mistress, or the time she caught her professor saying ‘uncomfortable’ comments, or even catching her father-in-law saying sexual comments. Each time, she says Reclip caught the moment. Which leads us to ask…is her TikTok even real?
Even if her clip was an undisclosed ad for the app, viewers can’t help but feel compassion for a girl they don’t know. Most of the comments under the clip mention “boost” as a way to make sure it gets enough traction to reach the desired target. This practice is common in the gossiping world of TikTok, with the Mary Sue covering a similar story recently. Apparently, a barista overheard a man demeaning his fiancée to a random woman, calling her a ‘nightmare.’ In that clip, viewers were also commenting in hopes that their interaction would get the video to said fiancée.
In @nostolgicgirly’s clip, viewers band together in a similar fashion. Others just praise the TikTok creator for being so direct. The top comment says, “We love a girls girl.”
Another shares, “Women supporting women.” One goes far to say, “You deserve a noble [sic] peace prize.”
Some share similar tactics they’ve discovered in their own dating life. One viewer says, “I once discovered I was saved as ‘Matt.””
Another gives a clue on how to check in on their partners’ fidelity: “Always go on whatsapp and scroll through the contacts bc their photo will show so you’ll know if ‘work bro’ is a girl.”
The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message.
Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].
A customer went inside a Lululemon store to exchange some leggings she purchased in Louisiana. Then, the store’s employees refused to process the exchange, telling her, “ We can’t do an exchange for this one.”
In a video with over 581,000 views, @bebelewiz exposed her recent experience inside a Lululemon. Despite bringing a receipt with her, store associates continually told her they could not make a return.
Many commenters wondered whether @bebelewiz’s encounter with store employees was racially motivated, especially considering how employees discussed her return in person. In subsequent follow-ups, employees also allegedly commented on her post, adding more fuel to the fire.
What exactly happened in Lululemon?
@bebelewiz went inside the American Dream mall to return some Lululemon leggings she purchased “a few days prior.” She had just wanted to exchange the extra-small leggings she purchased for small ones.
On her receipt, she saw that Lululemon stores accept returns countrywide. When she got in-store, however, the employee let her know that they didn’t want to make the exchange. The associate told her she would have to return it with “the person she bought it from in Louisiana.”
The situation continued escalating, with more employees coming out to explain that they wouldn’t be processing the exchange for her. Store employees eventually told her that she was not allowed to record the encounter and asked her to leave the property.
@bebelewiz later posted the situation online. But many commenters simply claimed she had created a “fake receipt” to return stolen leggings.
@bebelewiz later clarified in a comment on her follow-up post, “The comments about it being a fake receipt or fake products are insane and only furthermore proves my point of being profiled as a black woman that simply wanted to SHOP. Not looking for sympathy, just raising awareness to show the conduct of the employees and the fact that they feel comfortable lying about policies because of their own emotions, not the company policies.”
Store employees also apparently commented on her follow-up post. An employee with the TikTok handle @lexitorres996 wrote, “I love how you don’t record the entire reaction. Like for example you snatching the receipt out of his hand but you wanna record when you decided to be calm.”
Did the store employee think her pants were stolen?
Based on some of the employees’ language in-store, it’s possible that they thought the leggings were stolen. Lululemon generally does allow customers to return items purchased in-store at any location across the U.S., but returns are made on a case-by-case basis. Stores have the right to refuse returns according to their online policies.
Commenters urged @bebelewiz to take the issue further, saying, “He definitely thinks it’s stolen; ‘the person you bought it from in Louisiana’ vs the store you bought it from is extremely telling! Definitely take this up with the corporate and file a written complaint including his name and the other employee.”
To many, it was a profiling incident rather than a chance exchange. “He thinks it was stolen,” said another viewer. “They need to stop profiling people.”
Does Lululemon have a problem with People of Color (POC)?
Many commenters also discussed the idea that Lululemon is not supportive of People of Color (POC). Multiple viewers added their thoughts in, saying that the company actively engages in bad rhetoric toward POC.
“Lululemon has made it clear time after time after time that their company isn’t meant for people that look like us,” said one POC commenter.
Another commenter referenced an interview that Lululemon founder Chip Wilson did with Forbes while criticizing the company. In the interview, the founder criticized the company’s DEI efforts. To a degree, the commenter’s understanding of the situation is true. But the commenter misattributed something Wilson stated during said interview. The former CEO claimed that men in Lululemon ads looked “sickly,” not that DEI efforts were. Wilson had a number of other complaints, including the company’s recent ventures into men’s apparel.
Lululemon apparently distanced itself from Wilson’s comments, saying that they did not reflect the current company. “Chip Wilson does not speak for Lululemon, and his comments do not reflect our company views or beliefs. Chip has not been involved with the company since his resignation from the board in 2015 and we are a very different company today,” a Lululemon spokesperson said to Forbes via email.
But, POC have felt unwelcome, with many people’s personal experiences echoing that of @bebelewiz.
Many people take Lululemon’s side, despite the store’s return policies
Despite some support from commenters, many people thought that Lululemon was in the right.
As one person said, “You bought the clothes in Louisiana. They do not sell those products in that store so they will not return it. He works there for far less than listening to you yell at him. He doesn’t make the policies, he just follows the rules.”
Others criticized the fact that @beblewiz continued recording the employees without their permission. The situation’s generated some controversy and back-and-forth, with viewers ultimately divided on how they approach the situation.
We’ve reached out to @bebelewiz and Lululemon for comment.
A Brewster Street Icehouse worker in Texas showed her audience one bad and tricky part of her job. She has to throw away all of the leftover cheese for the night straight into the trash can.
Piper set up her phone to record her, then tossed the bag over her head on “hour 12” of her incredibly late shift. Only, it didn’t end up in the dumpster. Instead, the molten dairy product burst from the bag directly onto her phone, covering the camera in a yellow glow.
Piper posted the video (presumably after cleaning off her phone) in a video with over 17 million views.
Audiences can pause to see the exact moment that the two plastic trash bags Piper was holding burst, bringing forth an avalanche of liquid that made for a genuinely bad work day.
Why did the bag burst?
According to Piper, the bag was sealed with two different plastic trash bags. Despite this, the hot cheese persisted.
Based on online accounts and reports, even average “melty” cheese temperatures can burn through plastics and other superficial bags. The melting point of cheddar is 150°F (66°C). Other cheeses have different melting points and points at which they “re-congeal” if not kept at a constant temperature.
It’s likely that the cheese kept at Brewster Street House is kept on a constant low heat to keep it from congealing, which keeps the cheese ready for guests. But that doesn’t bode well for a weak trash bag, even double-bagged.
The bag also most likely weighed quite a bit. An entire tub of melted cheese will have significant weight, as it has no air or space between the layers. In essence, melted cheese is denser and has more volume than shredded cheese. You can pack more shredded cheese into a small space, making a tub of melted cheese have more cheese than a regular tub of cheddar or mozzarella.
Restaurant employees are instructed to throw away leftover food at the end of a shift. That’s because they don’t want to risk keeping food that may expire or not be as high-quality for upcoming shifts.
According to Restaurant HQ, the U.S. is the largest active contributor to food waste, with the restaurant industry contributing 160 billion to food waste.
There are conscientious efforts for restaurants to reduce their food waste, but these efforts don’t always translate to products like melted cheese. After all, it’s incredibly difficult to “donate” a tub of nacho cheese to a charitable organization. Rather, restaurants focus on products like baked goods that have longer expiration dates, travel better, and are still edible when slightly stale.
Apps like Too Good To Go are helpful for restaurants to save certain products from going straight into the dumpster, but it’s likely that Piper will continue throwing away hot cheese in the future.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Piper and Brewster Street Icehouse for comment.
A Texas woman is debating between buying her all-in-one washer-dryer from either Samsung, LG, or GE. However, commenters are enthusiastically throwing in an alternative option.
On Sept. 29, a TikToker (@Mrs_Tink) posted a video sharing her thought process for buying a new washer-dryer. “I’m considering paying $2,000 for an all-in-one washer-dryer,” she tells viewers.
“Three companies make all in one: LG, Samsung, and GE,” she says. While these aren’t the only options, these are among the most common.
The TikToker is largely leaning toward the Samsung option. We broke down why and did research to see if her reasons are backed up.
Why is she leaning towards the Samsung all-in-one washer-dryer?
She mentions that the LG and GE washer-dryer units are $2,098, compared to Samsung’s unit being $1,998.
She also mentions that Samsung has the shortest cycle time. “Here’s my selling point,” she says. “[Samsung] has a 68-minute wash and dry cycle. This is the problem with the GE one. If you look, there’s no vent on either of these. Same thing with the LG one. If you look at the back, no vent. Samsung’s the only one using their noggin.”
She goes on to say that Samsung’s use of its vent is why the wash time is so much shorter. “The Samsung has a vent, she says. “This is why it cuts down on the drying time.”
SH 2:How accurate is her reasoning?
While LG and GE sell ventless all-in-one washer-dryers, meaning none require an external dryer vent and rely on condensation or heat-pump drying rather than exhausting moist air outside, Samsung’s shorter advertised wash-and-dry cycles are partially because there is a vent, as vented dryers do typically work faster and have higher heat capabilities.
Reviews note Samsung combos can finish faster than LG or GE models, but real-world times still vary significantly based on load size and fabric type, and none function like a traditional vented dryer.
It’s also important to note that higher heat settings can generally have certain drawbacks, including risks of clothing wear and shrinkage. Ventless, heat-pump systems dry more slowly and at lower sustained temperatures than vented dryers. Some owners report clothes still feeling damp or needing extra time, especially if overloaded, mixed with bulky items, or set on incorrect cycles—which can compound heat exposure if repeated runs are used to compensate.
By far and away, the comments were suggesting the Speed Queen. “Speed Queen or buy again in a few years,” wrote one comment.
“If you were going to spend that kind of money, invest in a Speed Queen,” added another.
“I just bought Speed Queen, I’ll never buy any other brand!!!!” said a third comment.
The many comments raving about Speed Queen are not coming from nowhere. Even though the upfront cost is high, Speed Queen has a strong reputation for durability and owner satisfaction, often outperforming mainstream brands in long-term reliability.
Consumer-oriented testing shows Speed Queen earned top marks for owner satisfaction and a robust build, whereas GE is middling and Samsung/LG can lag in reliability. However, Speed Queen’s emphasis is on simple, rugged performance over smart features or all-in-one convenience. Additionally, Speed Queen does not offer the same type of all-in-one unit in the US, and instead offers a stacked unit.
Social media users are using colorful text to express their emotions, as the new viral trend takes over TikTok.
Dubbed “Yellow Font Theory” and “Pink Font Theory” a series of trends are users’ own secret languages using colorful captions to signal hidden emotional vulnerability in their messaging.
“If you use yellow font, it no longer means that you’re just using a yellow font,” one TikTok user explained. “It means you are saying something that is deeply and painfully vulnerable.”
In one video with over 300,000 views, an aesthetic video compilation is overlaid with the caption “a conversation about how you feel is not supposed to end in an argument” in a yellow font. In the captions, users embrace the vulnerable message often responding with crying memes or agreeing with the statement.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
But more recently, users are not shying away from directly referencing the trend by name, signing the caption “yellow font btw” at the end.
“Thankful because I have the ability to forget anyone in my life no matter how close they were to me,” one user shared to TikTok, followed by the phrase “yellow font btw.”
While yellow font messaging started trending as soon as November 2025, the trend has quickly expanded to include pink as another signifier.
Pink font messages often signal a degree of delusion, referencing crushes, situationships, and an emotional yet hopeful and nostalgic tone.
“Pink font theory is yellow theory’s romantic sister. This is about being in love,” the user explained.
For instance one user shared to tiktok “it feels so good when someone says “that’s so you” feels good to know i exist and have a vibe” finishing the text with “pink font btw.”
But even despite referencing the trend explicitly, many users are left confused. In the same pink font video users expressed profound puzzlement.
“PLEASE someone explain what these font colors mean. I’m crashing out over here,” one user commented.
“Can we normalize giving context to trends all of a sudden my for you page with yellow font theory,” a user posted on TikTok. “Just say what you want to say and move on”
But it’s not only confusion that is plaguing the trend. As it often goes on the internet, not everyone is embracing the trend in good faith, with many resorting to mocking and parodying both the pink and yellow font trends.
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In a world of geopolitical rivalry, supply-chain vulnerability and rising costs, competitiveness has become a strategic balancing act. Unsplash+
Competitiveness is not a new concept. It is likely embedded in our DNA, much like other fundamental instincts such as cooperation, survival, reproduction and mobility. What has changed over time is its geographical scope: once local, then national, competitiveness has now become global. That shift has fundamentally transformed how we understand prosperity, business, work and everyday life.
At its core, competitiveness is the ability to solve problems better than others. “Better” may mean cheaper, faster or, most importantly, with greater added value for the user. Competitiveness applies to everyone. A plumber is competitive if he fixes your sink quickly and reliably; a doctor if she cures you efficiently; a company if it consistently creates value and earns a profit. Historically, competitiveness was constrained by geography. A local plumber could not repair a sink in Beijing. But globalization has changed that equation. Today, even small, locally rooted companies may be tempted—or forced—to compete far beyond their original markets. Within a few decades, barriers to trade, communication and capital flows have fallen dramatically, opening global markets to firms of all sizes and origins.
The golden age of competitiveness
The era of openness can be dated quite precisely. It began on December 18, 1978, when Deng Xiaoping announced China’s open-door policy. That decision triggered a four-decade-long expansion of the global economy that lasted until the Covid-19 pandemic struck. During this period, unique in human history, it became possible to travel, communicate, invest and conduct business in virtually every country.
For companies, access to previously closed markets meant the possibility of supplementing an export strategy with direct investments. Such a change also implied greater knowledge of local markets, legislation, government policies, customers and value systems. Globalization rewarded scale, specialization and efficiency.
This period of openness also promoted multilateralism. Conflicts, at least in principle, were managed through international institutions rather than unilateral force. As President Reagan once observed, “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means.”
Vulnerability steps in
While this period delivered remarkable economic growth, it also produced structural vulnerabilities. Globalization encouraged specialization and, in turn, specialization created dependency. Certain nations came to dominate strategic minerals, key technologies or critical manufacturing capacities that could not easily be replaced.
China’s trade surplus has exceeded $1 trillion. This has been driven by expanding exports in critical minerals such as rare earths, renewable energy technologies like solar and wind, biotechnology and automobiles. For example, in 2001, China began investing in electric vehicle technologies, aiming to enhance competitiveness in an area where it struggled to match the U.S., Germany and Japan in traditional internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicle manufacturing. In 2009, with the support of financial subsidies from the Chinese government, fewer than 500 electric vehicles were sold. However, by 2022, following over $29 billion in tax breaks and subsidies since 2009, China sold more than 6 million EVs, accounting for over half of the global EV market. Projections suggest that by 2025, China will have sold well over 11 million electric vehicles.
With domestic consumption accounting for just 39 percent of China’s GDP, compared to roughly 70 percent in the U.S. and Europe, exports, in part, fill the production gap. The result is mounting international trade tension.
The empires strike back
Today, the U.S., China and Europe together account for over 60 percent of global GDP. What’s more, they are also political, technological and military powers. In 2025, the U.S. and China account for nearly half of global defense spending. Military procurement has become one of the fast-growing business sectors worldwide, rising by 9 percent to a total of $2.7 trillion in 2024.
Thus, the empires are back. As Henry Kissinger wrote in his book Diplomacy, “Empires are not interested in an international system; they want to be the international system.” Multilateralism is under strain, and geopolitical confrontation is increasingly replacing cooperative governance.
The politicization of conflict
The proliferation of tariffs and industrial policies is rightly alarming. However, these tools often mask another reality: access to markets is threatened. Or at least it is subject to political interference. “Geo-economy” is the new policy. It means transforming economic strength into political and diplomatic goals.
In the past, conflicts between nations largely centered around employment and economic fairness, and were resolved within multilateral frameworks such as the World Trade Organization. Today, international disputes increasingly invoke national security. The recent cases involving Huawei and TikTok in the U.S. illustrate this shift. When security is invoked, debate becomes more emotional, less evidence-based and firmly sovereign. Each nation claims the final say.
How does a fractured world economy function?
A fractured economy does not imply deglobalization. The world economy will remain interconnected, but its rules will no longer be universal. For example, transaction platforms such as SWIFT for payments or global credit card networks may no longer be universally accepted. Instead, countries will increasingly develop parallel institutions to retain control.
At the same time, multilateral institutions have not disappeared, and some will continue to operate to the greatest extent possible. According to the World Trade Organization, a majority of global trade still operates under multilateral agreements. Despite pressure from the U.S., non-American trade accounts for 86 percent of global commerce.
Alternatively, bilateral agreements continue to expand rapidly, either between economic blocs, such as the European Union and Mercosur, or between countries. China continues to forge bilateral agreements, notably with many nations in the Global South.
Between multilateralism and bilateralism lies a third model: ad hoc coalitions. These involve limited groups of countries aligning around defense policy, economic strategy or shared values. Examples include Europe’s SAFE program and the Coalition of the Willing, which bring together countries concerned about military security in Europe. Their aim is to make decisions and implement them quickly without being hampered by the need for broad consensus.
What strategies for companies in 2026?
Navigating this environment is extraordinarily complex. Companies must contend with several layers of political interference, market disruptions and profound technological change, from teh electrification of the economy to the rise of A.I. Nevertheless, four strategic axes are emerging for 2026.
Diversification. Companies are reducing excessive dependence on a limited number of suppliers, markets or customers. It is a quiet revolution taking place under the radar, but with a profound impact on nations and companies alike. China is redirecting its business towards Europe and the Global South while companies worldwide seek alternative energy and technology partners. Managing vulnerability has become a strategic imperative.
Resilience. The world will not stop interfering with corporate strategies. Thus, even if the future is more unpredictable, decisions must still be made, often under uncertainty and risk. Resilience is the capacity to adapt quickly as conditions change. As Carl von Clausewitz noted, “Strategy is the evolution of a central idea through continually changing circumstances.”
Reliability. In a fractured economy, a company’s competitiveness also depends on strengthening confidence in its relationships with business partners. When the environment is in turmoil, a few things, precisely, should not change. Trust is one of them. Reliability implies transparency and efficiency. The ease of doing business is critical. As Peter Drucker said: “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently something that nobody needs.”
Pricing power. In 2026, operating costs will inevitably rise. Political barriers and national priorities leave limited room for cost reduction. Price increases often become unavoidable. Competitiveness, then, depends on a firm’s ability to convince customers that value justifies price. Warren Buffett’s advice remains apt: “Price is what you pay; value is what you get.”
Optimism for 2026?
Business leaders must remain optimistic—whether by choice or necessity. Their primary role is to solve problems and motivate people toward success. Nostalgia, however comforting, is not a strategy. The world of 2026 will not return to a reassuring past. Nor does it have to be worse. It will simply be different. When Mark Twain was asked what he thought after listening to an opera by Richard Wagner, he replied: “It’s not as bad as it sounds.”
That, perhaps, is the most realistic mindset for planning 2026.
Stephane Garelli is Professor Emeritus at IMD and the University of Lausanne, the founder of the World Competitiveness Center, and a former managing director of the World Economic Forum and the Davos Annual Meetings. His latest book,World Competitiveness: Rewriting the Rules of Global Prosperity is published by Wiley.
2025 was truly the best year in pop music we’ve had in a while! It seems like artists are simply locking back into what makes a true pop song and mastering that art. Narrowing this list down to simply 25 songs was quite the challenge, but we think this list is the best of the best throughout all facets of pop music! From Olivia Dean and Chappell Roan to Greyson Chance and so many more, let’s jump in!
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
There is no way to talk about the great pop resurgence of 2025 without highlighting The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift. For us, the entire album is full of examples of a true-to-form pop song, but we had to choose to highlight ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ due to it being inescapable since its release. This song is pure ear candy, and will get stuck in your head for hours even after just hearing a few seconds.
Olivia Dean – ‘Man I Need’
Olivia Dean is taking the pop music world by storm with ‘Man I Need,’ and to us that makes perfect sense. In anyone else’s discography, ‘Man I Need’ would be an easy career highlight, and yet, it’s one of many songs on Olivia’s most recent album, The Art of Loving, that blew us away upon the first listen and could have easily taken this spot.
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘House Tour’
Man’s Best Friend is stacked top to bottom with pop gold, but after listening back through the album, ‘House Tour’ had to be our choice! Everything from that infectious chorus to the “my house is on pretty girl avenue” line made this one of those songs that will soundtrack nights out for us through the foreseeable future.
Jonas Brothers – ‘Love Me To Heaven’
The Jonas Brothers have been experts at the pop music game since Nick first uttered the words ‘red dress’ back in 2008, so it’s no surprise to us that they are only getting better and better 17 years later. Their newest record, Greetings From Your Hometown, had an obvious stand-out to us the first time we listened, and that was ‘Love Me To Heaven.’
Audrey Hobert – ‘Phoebe’
Who’s The Clown?by Audrey Hobert was truly on an endless loop here at THP! Upon first listen, it was automatically clear that we were witnessing the artistic birth of someone who had a crystal clear understanding of how to bring themselves through in the music, be specific while staying relatable, and develop a sound that was particularly hers. We could have easily put any song from the album here, but ‘Phoebe’ is a forever favorite of ours!
Greyson Chance – ‘Waiting Outside The Lines ‘25’
No, we are not trying to transport you back to 2011, but there is so much beauty in taking a certified nostalgia-packed hit and reimagining it with years of life lived and heightened vocal ability to back it up. We can’t help but have a permanent smile on our face listening to this track and diving into Greyson’s current catalog (which everyone should do themselves the favor of doing)!
Jensen McRae – ‘Novelty’
If you asked us what album impacted us the most this year, one of the easiest answers would be I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!Anyone who has dived into Jensen’s discography knows what a savant she is. Her relationship to her pen is one of one, and this album may be the best example of that in her discography so far. ‘Novelty’ is the song that immediately jumps out at us as a must-listen.
Lady Gaga – ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’
Lady Gaga is synonymous with pop music at this point. She has always had the skill on lock, and in many ways, has influenced so much of what the modern genre looks like. MAYHEM was a true return to form for Lady Gaga, and showed that her knowledge and talent with the pop music world has never faltered. ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’ is an instant smash and is still on repeat.
5 Seconds of Summer – ‘NOT OK’
We will forever preach our love for 5 Seconds of Summer and how they get better with every release! (If you didn’t know, this band is literally why THP exists!) EVERYONE’S A STARcame out just over a month ago and is the band’s most ambitious, larger-than-life project yet. But of course, every element was nailed perfectly. Each of the guys has so many standout moments, but there are even more moments when it is so clear why they continue to make music together: everything flows seamlessly.
Sadie Jean – ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’
Sadie Jean is the exact singer-songwriter your playlist is in need of, and we had to highlight a track off her debut album, Early Twenties Torture! Every song on this record feels like Sadie had a insider’s look at our deepest thoughts and struggles, was able to turn them poetic, and then put them to music. That skill of relatability is rare. ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’ is our favorite example of that peek inside our minds.
Laufey – ‘Lover Girl’
Laufey has seamlessly blended the worlds of pop and jazz music and made a fusion that leaves us regularly at a loss for words. A Matter of Time is Laufey’s most recent album. And upon our first listen, it was clear that this is a generational album, one of those records where anyone who gives it a chance will fall in love with it. ‘Lover Girl’ is our favorite song off the record, so we had to highlight it!
Amber Mark – ‘Let Me Love You’
Amber Mark is the pop star you’ve been looking to add to your playlists! If you’re a fan of artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Dean, Amber’s album, Pretty Idea, and specifically our favorite track, ‘Let Me Love You,’ is going to be right up your alley! We are predicting that 2026 is going to be a huge year for Amber! And with music of this quality, it makes complete sense!
Justin Bieber – ‘Yukon’
‘Yukon’ was one of our most-streamed songs of the year; it’s that serious to us! SWAG, for us, felt like Justin coming back into his own, making the music that feels true to form. With ‘Yukon,’ that infectious chorus we’ve come to know and love from Justin Bieber is the shining star, which definitely adds to why we are constantly playing this track on a loop.
Lydia Night – ‘The Bomb’
You may know Lydia Night from her time with the band The Regrettes, but trust us when we say she has turned into a full-blown solo pop star. Lydia released her debut album, Parody of Pleasure, back in August, and all thirteen songs are expertly crafted! ‘The Bomb’ has been a standout since we first dove into this album. The song is playful and reminiscent of early 2000s pop.
Role Model – ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’
Obviously, ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ has taken the world by storm this year, so there was no way we weren’t going to give Role Model his flowers. We haven’t heard a chorus quite as infectious as ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ in quite a long time. It’s impossible not be in an instant good mood when it hits.
Myles Smith – ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’
If you were as obsessed with Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’ as we were, then ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ is the perfect addition to your playlists! Myles is someone who you continue to find new things about his artistry to dig into with each listen.
Zara Larsson is a pop star in the truest sense of the word. Her entire album, Midnight Sun, is a pop masterclass, in which she’s the only person equipped to teach. When we first heard the title track ‘Midnight Sun,’ we knew that this was a whole new ball game in terms of pop music, and that we would take every opportunity to praise what Zara is doing with her artistry.
HAIM – ‘Relationships’
This song is pure ear candy and truly a discography highlight from one of our favorite trios! The chorus has serotonin woven into every line and lyric. And it makes us want to be out at night in the city with friends, dancing to every word. Their most recent album, i quit, is chock-full of tracks where you will see these themes.
Conan Gray – ‘Vodka Cranberry’
Conan Gray was born to make the exact music he’s making right now. He releases such infectious pop tracks with lyrics that both feel true to self for Conan and still connect deeply with his audience. ‘Vodka Cranberry’ blew up this year, and to us, it only makes perfect sense. This is a solidified hit.
Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’
If you didn’t know, Tate McRae is a name that we have been screaming from the rooftops since we got to interview her years ago (which you can read here!). Tate blends musicality with dance seamlessly to draw people into who she is as a musician. ‘Sports Car’ and its visual components showcase exactly why Tate has quickly become a household name.
Avery Cochrane – ‘Shapeshifting On A Saturday Night’
Hailing from Seattle, Avery Cohrane is bound to be the name you can’t escape this next year in pop music! This year, she released her track, ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night,’ and blew us away with the established pop sound she was crafting. If you’re a fan of artists like Chappell Roan or Olivia Rodrigo, we think you will love Avery!
Addison Rae – ‘Headphones On’
It’s no secret that Addison Rae has had a massive year. From the success of ‘Diet Pepsi’ and her tour to her debut album, Addison, everything about her career so far has been the beginning of a pop star who will be talked about and celebrated for years to come. For Addison, pop is a true work of performance art, following in the footsteps of the likes of Britney Spears. ‘Headphones On’ off her debut album summarizes everything we love most about Addison as an artist.
Reneé Rapp – ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’
We yell the chorus to ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’ at truly astronomical levels. Everything about this track resonates with us. Something that Reneé Rapp never fails to do is draw the listener in and weave her story in a way that feels relatable to others. On top of the lyrical content of the song, Reneé’s vocals are otherworldly here.
Demi Lovato – ‘Joshua Tree’
The 2025 version of Demi Lovato is the only artist who could craft an album like It’s Not That Deep. This record is a amalgamation of someone who has gone through it all. Someone who has experienced hardships and heartache and is in the complete opposite space now. And a lot of it is backtracked with songs you want to be in the club dancing to. That’s the duality of pop and of Demi, and it’s beautiful. To us, ‘Joshua Tree’ best represents the album as a whole.
Chappell Roan – ‘The Subway’
Ending our best 2025 pop songs with one that is still inescapable like ‘The Subway’ only felt right. Chappell Roan is a once-in-a-lifetime artist. She creates with such intention and really takes her time with each project, which comes through in the music. ‘The Subway’ will be looked at years from now as one of the great songs of the decade.
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite pop song of 2025? Is it something off the new Taylor Swift album? Maybe a Conan Gray song? Or an Olivia Dean song? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
Walking into Hermès and asking for a Mini Kelly like it’s a latte order is apparently the fastest way to get laughed at. An Atlanta man went viral after calmly requesting the elusive bag—only to be met with polite chuckles and a firm “no” from the sales associate.
He asks again, and she insists there was no possibility of buying one that day. Cue the internet, now convinced the store definitely had Mini Kellys tucked away in the back. Because, according to them, Hermès is all about hierarchy.
What’s a Mini Kelly?
Luckily for those who aren’t aware of this brand or item, Love Luxury posted an article talking all about Mini Kellys, from design to prices.
“The story begins in 1930…the bag was intended for independent and elegant women of the time, which is why it fell into the hands of pregnant Grace Kelly in 1956. In order to hide her blooming belly from the eyes of the public and paparazzi, she held the Kelly bag in front of her… and just like that, the Hermès bag had a namesake.” The article also states that prices usually start from around £7,000. Of course, that might be subject to change considering if it has different features.
Is Owning a Mini Kelly a Status Symbol?
This is where some of the discourse comes in. Many know how exclusive it is to buy any Hermès bag. That’s why it is assumed that they don’t sell it to the general public. Baghunter released an article about the exclusivity of these bags. “These bags are undoubtedly a symbol of wealth. This is due to their high prices, which can range from as low as $10,000 to as high as $150,000. They are used as a status symbol and are typically bought by celebrities and super models that represent the exclusivity of the bag.These bags are exclusive, meaning they are only available to a small group of people who have the right connections and can afford to spend so much on a bag.”
The Interaction at Hermès
@TheDivineDaddy videoed his short interaction at Hermès as he was seeking to buy a Mini Kelly bag. The clip is 17-seconds long and has almost 10 million views. He starts the video by walking up to the counter in the Hermès store and saying, “Hey I got a question. Can I get a Mini Kelly?” The sales associate chuckles and says, “Sorry, I don’t have any available.” It seems he asks a question off-camera and she replies, “No wish list basis.”
He then asks, “I can’t walk out of here with a Mini Kelly?” She responds, “No.” This time, he says, “Any color? Could be the ugliest color.” The sales associate once again chuckles and repeats, “I’m sorry, no.” The clip ends.
Many viewers are convinced that the sales associate was lying about not having any bags to sell. One shares, “she 100% has a mini kelly back there.” Another says, “The way she said “no” let me know she has them but won’t give it to you.”
One viewer even says, “They have shelves of them. This gatekeeping is insane. I wish people would just stop buying them and let Hermes sit there with a pile of bags that aren’t selling.”
On the other hand, some viewers wonder why anyone would want to buy an Hermès bag to begin with. One says, “People still buying at this store is WILD TO ME.” While another shares, “Hermes never gotta worry about me.”
Other viewers refer to the Hermès ‘game.’ One viewer states, “not knowing the hermes game in 2025 is crazy.” Another says, “They would deny anyone who comes in, even if they visibly look rich. Hermes has this stupid process where you have to build a relationship with 1 sales associate and buy over 20k worth of stuff before they will put you on a wishlist for a Kelly bag. Then you get whatever color they offer you once your name on the wishlist comes up.”
The Rome Station posted an article detailing the Hermès process when looking for a specific bag. “Getting offered a Hermès bag is a process, never a guarantee. We can’t just ring up an order and stroll out with a Birkin. Instead, the waitlist system rewards consistent clients who have built trust and purchase history with a boutique.” They even have a handy table as an outline.
The Mary Sue covers a similar story about a woman who went shopping in Cartier. It seems that it’s a common occurrence for luxury brands to gatekeep their products. We’ve reached out to the creator and Hermes via email.
Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].
