21/08/2025
From hero to unemployed in weeks...
Nykia Hamilton, the "Burger King Mom" who went viral in July after a customer recorded her working an entire shift alone at a Burger King in Columbia, South Carolina, has been fired.
The 25-year-old single mother of three became famous when a TikTok showed her working a 12-hour shift completely by herself - taking drive-thru orders, cooking burgers, cleaning floors, and restocking supplies after her coworker quit mid-shift.
People were amazed by her work ethic and called her superhuman. A GoFundMe was launched to support her and her children, raising close to $70,000.
But now she's unemployed. In a tearful TikTok video, Hamilton explained that Burger King fired her for being late due to her children. She said her kids come first and pointed out that the company doesn't pay for babysitters.
Hamilton has also spoken candidly about how viral fame wasn't something she wanted, saying she didn't ask for the attention and that it's left her feeling vulnerable during an already difficult time.
A woman who showed incredible dedication gets punished for prioritizing her children. Make it make sense.
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