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Tag: Viral Videos

  • Target’s 8 Foot Jack-O-Lantern Decoration Goes Viral on TikTok | Entrepreneur

    Target’s 8 Foot Jack-O-Lantern Decoration Goes Viral on TikTok | Entrepreneur

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    Step aside, Jack-o-Lantern. There’s a new pumpkin in town, and his name… is Lewis.

    The 8-foot Halloween decoration went viral on TikTok after users started posting videos of him on the showroom floor of Target.

    At first glance, the pumpkin-faced ghoul looks like any other spooky lawn toy. But press his “talk” button, and he will eventually utter the catchphrase that has set the internet on fire.

    “I am not a jack-o’-lantern,” he says. “My name is Lewis.”

    @imshannonduh I dont know who voiced this halloween decoration at Target but i hope they got paid a lot of money to do it #halloween #halloweendecor #target #targethalloween #spookyseason ♬ original sound – shan ?

    At press time, #mynameislewis had over 20 million views on TikTok, with users raving about how much they loved Lewis-o-Lantern.

    “He’s so dreamy and cute,” wrote Lucybug.

    “I keep randomly saying Lewis around my house,” Abbeney K commented.

    Says Brynn, “I work at Target and Lewis is the highlight of my day.”

    Even 90s alt-rock band The Smashing Pumpkins got in on the Lewis love, renaming themselves The Lewis Pumpkins in a video.

    @thesmashingpumpkins

    Live laugh love lewis

    ♬ Mayonaise – 2011 Remaster – Smashing Pumpkins

    Related: The Dallas Cowboys’ Owner May Be Fined for His Halloween Costume. Was It Demeaning?

    Who is Lewis?

    Lewis isn’t technically branded as Lewis. Target’s website lists him as an “8′ Light and Sound Pumpkin Halloween Ghoul,” wearing what appears to be a Grim Reaper robe with a hoodie and a tattered shirt. The decoration is manufactured by Hyde & EEK! Boutique, a distributor of Halloween items since 2008. The price tag is a frightening $180.

    But don’t expect to be greeted by Lewis at your local Target anytime soon. At press time, Lewis was listed as completely “out of stock” on Target’s website.

    Origin story

    According to Know Your Meme, Lewis was first discovered on September 27th by TikToker @imshannonduh, whose real name is Shannon Murphy.

    Over six days, the video received roughly 2 million plays and 531,300 likes.

    Interviewed by NBC News about why she thinks the Lewis video caught on, Murphy said, “He’s Halloween’s Paddington Bear.”

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    Jonathan Small

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  • Dragon Pizza Sells Out After Dave Portnoy’s Barstool Bad Review | Entrepreneur

    Dragon Pizza Sells Out After Dave Portnoy’s Barstool Bad Review | Entrepreneur

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    Dave Portnoy’s public feud with a pizza shop owner is proving that there’s no such thing as bad press.

    Earlier this month, the Barstool Sports founder dubbed Dragon Pizza in Somerville, Massachusetts, “the worst pizza place in America” after his pizza review was interrupted and slammed by shop owner Charlie Redd in a now-viral video. However, the intense clip hasn’t hurt sales for the pizza joint.

    “Dave, enjoy your pizza as any customer, but I don’t appreciate what you do coming in and judging a business with one bite,” Redd said during the review. “I hope you enjoy your pizza, but I don’t appreciate what you do to small businesses.”

    RELATED: ‘Technically Correct’: Internet Loses It Over Man’s Pizza Delivery After Ordering Toppings ‘On The Side’

    Portnoy, who reviews pizza around the country for his “One Bite Pizza Review” series, refuted the statement and called Dragon Pizza “trash.” Despite the viral spat, the shop claims to be selling out of food in the wake of the controversy.

    To keep up with the new demand, Dragon Pizza had to close for a day to prepare after selling out several days in a row, according to the shop’s Instagram.

    RELATED: A Pizza Company Is Hiring a Full-Time ‘Pizza Influencer’ Role — And It Pays Six Figures

    While the review proved to be beneficial to the business, the shop owner is still at odds with Portnoy.

    “But I don’t want to give him credit for complicating my life,” Redd said about Portnoy to Boston.com. “We’re running our pizza shop, and everyone is happy. I’m receiving death threats. I’ve received threats at my home. I’m receiving tons of all sorts of different attacks in many different ways.”

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    Sam Silverman

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  • South Korean diplomats dance into Indian hearts in ‘Naatu Naatu’ viral video | CNN

    South Korean diplomats dance into Indian hearts in ‘Naatu Naatu’ viral video | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Dancing South Korean diplomats have won the hearts of millions of Indians with their viral video performance of Oscar-nominated song “Naatu Naatu,” reinforcing Seoul’s soft power diplomacy and even earning a nod of approval from India’s leader.

    In a video clip posted to Twitter on Sunday, staff from South Korea’s embassy in India’s capital New Delhi – many wearing traditional clothing from both countries – dance to the popular song from Telugu-language movie “RRR.”

    The 53-second clip, which features South Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok, has gone viral on social media, garnering more than 4 million views on Twitter as of Tuesday – and much praise in India.

    “Lively and adorable team effort,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

    “Love you for this!” author Kulpreet Yadav wrote, while another fan of the clip, Bhargav Mitra, called it “an excellent initiative.”

    “A fitting tribute to bilateral relations. How well can a song & dance sequence unite,” he wrote on Twitter.

    India’s positive response to the video reflects the growing popularity of South Korean culture in the country, where millions have embraced K-pop and K-dramas in recent years.

    Indians are also making inroads in South Korea’s entertainment industry. Singer Shreya Lenka became India’s first homegrown K-pop star when she joined girl group Blackswan last year, while Indian actor Anupam Tripathy starred in award-winning South Korean Netflix show, “Squid Game.”

    “Naatu Naatu,” which translates to “dance dance,” is composed by M.M. Keeravani, with lyrics from Chandrabose.

    Praised for its buoyant choreography and catchy tune, “Naatu Naatu” won India’s first ever Golden Globe in the best original song category last month and is favorite to win best original song at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12.

    The original song features Telugu superstars Ram Charan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr., known as Jr NTR, who dance in perfect synchronization to the lyrics. The video has more than 122 million views on YouTube.

    The Indian film industry produces tens of thousands of movies every year in multiple languages, and “RRR,” which stands for Rise Roar Revolt, is the country’s fourth-highest grossing picture, according to IMDb, earning nearly $155 million worldwide.

    It is set during India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule and became Netflix’s most watched non-English movie last June.

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  • Viral TikTok Video of Lowe’s Employee Leads to Resignation | Entrepreneur

    Viral TikTok Video of Lowe’s Employee Leads to Resignation | Entrepreneur

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    After a TikTok video of him struggling to retrieve a large box went viral earlier this month, a Lowe‘s employee in Louisiana resigned from his position on February 17th.

    @spencerdesormeaux Just another day at Lowes with Kelly boy ? #lowes ♬ original sound – Spencer Desormeaux

    The video, which Business Insider reports had nearly four million views as of Friday, shows the employee atop a store lift attempting to bring the box down from a high shelf. The box presses against the person’s head, neck, and chest. While a second employee can be heard encouraging the struggling coworker, a third warns, “that’s not a good idea.”

    The object eventually tilts and pushes the employee into the railing, causing him to scream for help. The video sparked concern and criticism online, pushing Lowe’s to take “prompt action.” However, the company has not provided details on the action it took or whether additional training was provided in operating the lift.

    The unnamed employee cited safety reasons for his resignation. According to a family member, the object was a set of Allen and Roth patio chairs weighing about 120 pounds, and when the load shifted, the mechanical lift shut off. The employee panicked.

    Lowe’s spokesman Larry Costello stated that the company values the safety of its employees and customers and that the actions in the video are contrary to the company’s training. Lowe’s did not comment on the employee’s resignation.

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    Steve Huff

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  • How to Leverage Trending Sounds to Go Viral on Social Media | Entrepreneur

    How to Leverage Trending Sounds to Go Viral on Social Media | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    With the rise of short-form content across TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram reels, this is the perfect way to build an audience and any niche in 2023. Over the past six months, I’ve been testing out different ways to apply trends using short videos. I did this for two reasons:

    1. I created software that spots trends for TikTok and other platforms. If I was going to show people how to go viral by using these trends, I must do it myself first.

    2. To expand my own personal brand

    So far, my results have been excellent. Specifically, on Instagram, I’ve been able to reach over 50 million people by leveraging trends with reels. I’ve also been able to see a great deal of success on other social media platforms as well.

    Other organic methods work just as well as focusing on short-form content, but today we are going to be focusing on why you should add short-form content to your social media strategy and how to use trending sounds to amplify it.

    Before we get started, let’s first answer this question:

    Related: 3 Ways Your Brand Can Go Viral on TikTok

    Why are social media trends so powerful?

    Social media trends are a powerful phenomenon that can shape public opinion and even create sweeping changes in how people think, act and interact. Whether it’s the #MeToo movement, giving voice to those who have faced sexual harassment or #BlackLivesMatter, highlighting racial oppression, social media trends have been used as a platform for collective action.

    The power of social media trends lies primarily in their ability to reach a massive audience in an incredibly short amount of time. Trends often spread like wildfire, with users from all over the world engaging with and sharing content within minutes of its release. This is especially true when popular figures like celebrities or influencers get involved. By leveraging their large following, they can amplify the trend exponentially and help shape public opinion on an issue.

    Be consistent

    It’s important to understand that trends and using trending sounds won’t guarantee a viral video. Each day during the week, I have the opportunity to consult with content creators across different niches. Some of these creators are just starting out, and others have multiple million followers across all platforms.

    The common mistake I see when hopping on these calls is that people think that applying trends to your content creation strategy will guarantee a viral video. Because of this mindset, I’ll see many people post three to four videos that leverage a rising trend and stop posting content, wondering why their videos haven’t popped off yet.

    Yes, using trending sounds is a way to get more viral content, but posting consistently is more important. Yes, you have some creators who are able to hit a home run on the first try, but the reality is that’s not going to work for everyone.

    Social media is a numbers game. We only use trends to better put the odds in our favor. I would rather you post content consistently without using any trending sounds than post a handful of trendy videos and stop posting altogether. That way, you would see significantly better results in the long run.

    Consistency does not only apply to social media. Consistency is a powerful tool that can help you reach your goals in life. It allows you to focus on the small steps leading up to larger successes rather than tackling everything at once. Consistency also helps keep you motivated and encourages good habits. When it comes to achieving success, consistency is key!

    Related: 3 Social Media Hacks to Help Your Content Go Viral

    Be relevant

    The last important step for using trending sounds to go viral with short-form content is to make sure that the audio you’re using is relevant to what you’re showing within your video.

    The algorithms are not dumb. People are not dumb either. Both the algorithm and the people watching your content love authenticity. This includes:

    Being authentic with your content while leveraging trending sounds makes it easier for multiple videos to go viral if one does happen to pop off.

    Using trending sounds is a great way to go viral, but it is just one of three things needed to go viral on TikTok, Instagram reels and YouTube shorts. Be sure you add consistency and relevancy. Those two things are arguably more important than applying trends. If you combine all three in your content creation strategy, you will see some fantastic results.

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    Dejon Brooks

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  • TikTok Video Goes Viral After ‘Surprise Me’ Trend Goes Wrong | Entrepreneur

    TikTok Video Goes Viral After ‘Surprise Me’ Trend Goes Wrong | Entrepreneur

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    When coffee reviewer Kristen Alk pulled up to order at her local Starbucks drive-thru, she did what so many TikTokers have done in recent months — she ordered a “surprise me drink.”

    The idea behind the #surprisemedrink trend is to give the barista a chance to get creative and deliver an off-menu, hand-picked concoction of their own making. Past videos have shown baristas serving up everything from a Rainbow Sherbet Frappuccino to a Hot Butterbeer Latte.

    But Alk received a surprise of a different sort.

    The incident was captured in a video that has since gone viral, with nearly 1 million views in 3 days.

    Rather than accept the challenge, the Starbucks employee on the other side of the microphone responded dryly, “I can get you an iced water. That sounds good.”

    Alk, who seemed taken aback by the sassy reaction, looked at the camera and said awkwardly, “Well, can you just make me something that sounds good?”

    @kristenalk The barista did NOT pass the vibe check? #starbucksbarista #baristastarbucks #rudebarista #starbucksfail #starbuckschallenge #surprisemedrink #surprisemestarbucks #starbuckssurprisedrink #starbucksbaristarecipes #badstarbucksvisit #challengegonewrong #gonewrong #pickmydrink #starbuckschallenge2023 ♬ original sound – kristenalk

    Later, Alk claimed the barista “did not pass the vibe check.” But she also admitted it was a busy day at the drive-thru, with a 35-minute wait for customers to get their order.

    Related: Dad Pisses Off Thousands With TikTok Explaining How to Hack Disney Ride Height Restrictions for Kids

    A divided response

    The video has garnered nearly 6000 comments, with viewers split between being pro-barista or pro-Alk.

    On one side of the divide, commenters seem shocked that a Starbucks employee would be rude to a customer. After all, as the old business mantra goes, “The customer is always right.”

    “Nooooo u should def email Starbucks ’cause that’s not acceptable,” wrote smhh..b.

    “As a barista, please ask for surprise me drinks; they are always so fun. Sorry, she was so mean to u,” wrote jimen

    A Tiktok viewer named Syd joked, “That’s some dunkin’ behavior.”

    On the other hand, some commenters found the whole #surprisemetrend insensitive and presumptuous, especially during a busy time when baristas are just trying to get through their orders.

    “I’m on the barista’s side. There’s nothing worse than someone coming during/right after a rush, asking for a surprise,” wrote Chasia Binney.

    “As a fast food worker, it’s not that we don’t want to make it, but we don’t know what your taste is, and not only that some come back bc they don’t like it,” Rosie explained.

    Perhaps both sides are right.

    As Alk said diplomatically at the end of the video, “I feel like it was a little bit rude, but I do understand that it might be annoying when people don’t just say what they want to order.”

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    Jonathan Small

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  • DoorDash Driver Accused of Flirting With Teen Customer on App

    DoorDash Driver Accused of Flirting With Teen Customer on App

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    On-demand food delivery services have become so commonplace that we can sometimes forget we’re conversing with strangers who know our names and addresses.

    Now, one mom is going viral on TikTok after catching a DoorDash employee attempting to flirt with her 15-year-old daughter through the messaging service provided through the platform.

    In a video that’s been viewed over 139,100 times, TikToker @officiallilwolf begins by admitting that she knows some viewers will view her as a “helicopter mom” for intervening when she saw concerning messages on her daughter’s DoorDash account.

    The TikToker began by explaining that her “very young looking” 15-year-old daughter ordered food and selected the “leave at door” option and only went outside to retrieve the food once she thought the driver was gone.

    @officiallilwolf DOORDASH IS NOT TINDER! Our kids aren’t even safe to order food! @doordash needs to do something better to protect their customers. Even if she WASN’T a minor. This is not a dating platform. We just wanna order our food in peace! #lilwolf #foryou #doordash #protectourchildren #nottinder ♬ original sound – Lilwolf

    She then shared screenshots of the conversation between her daughter and a DoorDash delivery driver named “Jarrod.”

    “Hey Caterina you got a boyfriend,” the message inside the delivery service’s platform from Jarrod read. “Sorry you were just too cute I had to ask.”

    It was at this moment that the TikToker decided to step in on behalf of her daughter.

    “Jarrod, Caterina is a MINOR. This is her mother,” she wrote. “This is a [FOOD] DELIVERY SERVICE NOT TINDER for pedophile behavior. Please know that I have notified DoorDash as well as local authorities. Shoot your shot with someone who isn’t 15!!”

    Many in the comments applauded the TikToker for stepping in and for protecting her daughter.

    “The scary thing is he knows where she lives,” one pointed out. “You handled it better then I would have.”

    “You didn’t go too far,” another said bluntly. “You did the right thing.”

    The woman maintained that she doesn’t “think there is a too far when it comes to keeping your children safe” and informed viewers that she was in contact with her local police department but that she was still trying to get a hold of DoorDash management at the time of the video.

    “My daughter ordered DoorDash, which she should be able to do, and she should be able to do it and feel safe,” she said. “This is not ok.”

    In a follow-up video, she revealed that “Jarrod” was no longer working on behalf of DoorDash.

    DoorDash did not immediately respond to Entrepreneur’s request for comment.

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    Emily Rella

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  • The Truth Behind Viral Videos Linking COVID Vaccine to Spasms, Shakes

    The Truth Behind Viral Videos Linking COVID Vaccine to Spasms, Shakes

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    SOURCES: 

    Twitter: @AngeliaDesselle, Jan. 21, 2023, @seanybrams, Jan. 24, 2023. 

    JAMA Neurology: “Current Concepts in Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Neurological Disorders.”

    Functional Neurological Disorder Society: “Press release from the Functional Neurological Disorders Society.”

    European Journal of Neurology: “Functional disorders as a common motor manifestation of COVID-19 infection or vaccination.”

    Alfonso Fasano MD, chair, Neuromodulation and Multi-Disciplinary Care, University of Toronto and University Health Network, co-director, Surgical Program for Movement Disorders, Toronto Western Hospital, Ottawa, Canada. 

    Neurologist: “Functional Neurological Disorders: Clinical Spectrum, Diagnosis, and Treatment.”

    Matthew Laurens, MD, pediatric infectious disease specialist, professor of pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.

    Jennifer Frontera, MD, neurologist, NYU Langone Health, professor of neurology, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York City.

    Annals of Neurology: “Neurological Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccines: An Analysis of VAERS.”

    Movement Disorders Clinical Practice: “Tics and TikTok: Functional Tics Spread Through Social Media.”

    Politifact: “The ‘shaking’ COVID-19 vaccine side-effect videos and what we know about them.”

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  • TikTok’s Grandma Holla Passed Away. How Twitter Is Mourning

    TikTok’s Grandma Holla Passed Away. How Twitter Is Mourning

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    TikTok’s favorite grandma has taken her last bow.

    Helen Davis, better known as “Grandma Holla” from her viral videos, has died at the age of 97. According to an announcement from her granddaughter, she died in her sleep following a long battle with cancer.

    RELATED: This 22-Year-Old Is Now the Most Popular TikToker in the World

    Davis, who was often seen in a hospital bed in her videos, garnered over 800,000 followers on TikTok for her reactions and commentary, which was often caught on camera by her granddaughter Chelle. In one video, that has 5 million views, the grandmother refused to swap out her beloved frappes for protein shakes, and her reaction was priceless.

    @lotteryfrappeandlaughs

    She don’t play when it comes to her frappes

    ♬ original sound – Michelle

    Following the news, social media erupted with posts mourning the beloved grandmother.

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    Sam Silverman

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  • Who Is Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker? Where Is He Now?

    Who Is Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker? Where Is He Now?

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    You may remember Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker from a viral 2013 interview that turned a homeless surfer into an overnight Internet sensation. He was regarded as a hero, per Esquire, after memorably explaining how he “suh-mashed” a man while hitchhiking to stop the driver from attacking a woman. The clip has garnered over 3 million views since it debuted almost 10 years ago.

    Kai appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” posing himself as a good samaritan at the time and even grabbed the attention of producers for a show of his own, but it never came to fruition, per Decider. However, his 15 minutes of fame came to a hard stop when he was arrested for killing a man just two months after going viral.

    A documentary exploring the tale, “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker,” was released on Netflix this week and unpacks the issues surrounding the glorification of internet stars.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the new documentary.

    Who Is Kai AKA Caleb Lawrence McGillvary?

    Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, known as Kai, was introduced to the world via viral video in February 2013. He was 24 years old at the time and living a nomadic life in the States after growing up in Canada.

    When he recorded his viral interview, Kai was hitching a ride to Fresno, Calif.

    At the time, Kai told news station KMPH that Jett Simmons McBride picked him up while hitchhiking, and while they were en route, McBride allegedly told the nomad that he raped a 14-year-old girl. Kai then said that McBride hit a pedestrian with the car on purpose.

    Once the ride came to a halt after hitting a pedestrian, bystander Tanya Baker ran to help but McBride attacked her. At that point, Kai said he stepped in and stopped the attack by hitting McBride with a hatchet.

    “A guy that big can snap a woman’s neck like a pencil stick. So I f–king ran up behind him with a hatchet. Smash, smash, SUH-MASH!” Kai recalled in the viral interview.

    Kai also shared a positive message to the camera, stating, “No matter what you’ve done, you deserve respect. Even if you make mistakes, you’re loveable.”

    His remarks garnered viral attention, including an auto-tuned song that garnered 11 million views.

    Days later, a KMPH released a follow-up interview with Kai and revealed he may have been more troubled than the world first thought.

    According to the report, his past “is darker and more gut-wrenching than you can imagine.”

    What Happened to the ‘Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker?’

    Just months after Kai’s interview went viral, the nomad was wanted by the police.

    A 73-year-old man was found beaten to death in his New Jersey home, according to People, when investigators found evidence in the house connecting Kai to the crime.

    Kai was arrested for killing the man, Joseph Galfy, whom he met in Time Square, per Esquire, after migrating from the West Coast to New York City, in May 2013.

    Once Kai was found by police at a Philadelphia bus station, he confessed to the murder but claimed it was self-defense after Galfy allegedly sexually assaulted him. He pleaded not guilty to the crime and was held on a $3 million bond after being deemed dangerous, CNN reported at the time.

    After spending six year in jail awaiting trial, he was convicted of first degree murder and was sentence to 57 years in prison in 2019.

    Where Is Kai Now?

    Kai is currently serving his sentence at New Jersey State Prison and isn’t eligible for parole until October 27, 2061, according to Decider. He filed to appeal his sentence in 2021 but was denied.

    He still claims he’s innocent.

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    Sam Silverman

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  • TikTokers Harassed at In-N-Out Burger With Racist Slurs

    TikTokers Harassed at In-N-Out Burger With Racist Slurs

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    Two Asian-Amercian customers at an In-N-Out Burger in San Ramon, California, were filming a TikTok video when a man verbally abused them with homophobic and racist language. The video, posted on Christmas, has since gone viral and led police to arrest suspect Jordan Douglas Krah on hate crime charges.

    @arinekim My friend and i were filming his reaction to my in-n-out order when this happened… #arinekim ♬ original sound – arine kim

    In the video, Arine Kim and Elliot Ha are seated inside an In-N-Out Burger, filming Ha’s reaction to Kim’s “light-well fries.” Off camera, a man approaches and asks them if they’re filming themselves eating, then he calls them “weird homosexuals.”

    Kim and Ha are taken aback by the comment but continue their review when the man returns to ask about their ethnicity. When Ha tells him he’s Korean, the man says, “You’re Kim Jong Un’s boyfriend, huh?”

    Not quite sure how to react, Ha plays along as the man’s questioning about his sexual orientation starts to become more aggressive. Kim notices that the situation is escalating and tells Ha to stop engaging and not react. The conversation’s tenor suddenly changes — Ha apologizes, and the man off-camera begins to threaten him.

    “Normally, I could spit in your face,” he says. Then he makes a derogatory remark about Filipinos.

    The man returns a few minutes later, harassing them with more homophobic comments before threatening to meet Ha outside. Kim asks nervously, “Do you think he’s going to pull a gun on us?”

    Related: Woman Throws Computer Monitor at Gate Agent After Missing Flight in Chaotic Footage

    Police arrest

    Kim posted the disturbing video on Christmas day and immediately received an outpouring of support from TikTok users shocked by the abhorrent hate language used. Some Venmoed money saying the next meal was on them.

    Kim’s TikTok caught the attention of Chief Denton Carlson of the San Ramone police department, who contacted Kim via Twitter. The next day the police arrested a suspect identified as Jordan Douglas Krah of Denver, Colorado.

    Krah was later released, but in an update video on TikTok, Kim says she has pressed hate crime charges.

    The incident left many wondering what happened after Kim shut off the camera. So Kim made another video a few days later, explaining that Krah waited outside the restaurant for about 10 minutes, glaring at them through the window.

    “We just stayed in our seats and didn’t move because we were scared if we did move, he would use that as an invitation to harass us more,” she said.

    She also revealed that she’d been contacted via Instagram by a Filipino family, who claimed that Krah spit and hurled racist comments at them in nearby Danville.

    Kim said she and Ha didn’t initially go to the police because Krah didn’t physically harm them. “I honestly thought our experiences were going to be dismissed,” she explained. “We didn’t think anyone would care.”

    But the reaction on TikTok and from law enforcement has been overwhelmingly supportive. Kim said she was grateful to have the platform to shed light on hate crimes and “the atrocities that minorities have to go through on a daily basis.”

    According to a report published by Stop AAPI Hate, the Asian American community reported more than 10,000 hate incidents in 2020 and 2021, nearly half occurred in public places.

    “I hope my situation inspires others to talk about their own experiences,” Kim said.

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    Jonathan Small

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