Burger King employee who went viral for running restaurant alone for 12 hours says she was fired; GoFundMe launched

A Burger King employee who went viral for single-handedly operating the restaurant alone for 12 hours says she’s has now been fired.

Nykia Hamilton, viral Burger King employee, claims she was fired

In July, 25-year-old Nykia Hamilton went viral after posting a TikTok video showing herself managing every station: drive-thru, front counter, kitchen, and cleanup at a Burger King location in Columbia, South Carolina.

The video, which amassed millions of views, highlighted the extreme staffing shortages plaguing the fast-food industry.

Customers praised her dedication, with one noting, “She’s doing everything she needs to do to make sure everybody is okay in here.”

However, Hamilton’s story took a sharp turn. On August 8, she tearfully announced via TikTok that Burger King had terminated her employment.

“They fired me because I’ve been late because of my kids,” she said. “My kids come first. Y’all don’t pay for no babysitter, or nothing.”

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8BrJLP8/

A Single Mom’s Struggle and Viral Fame

Hamilton, a single mother of three, had been working 12-hour shifts to support her family. She explained that her viral fame brought unexpected emotional strain. “I’m already aggravated, I’m already depressed,” she said. “I ain’t want no fame, no money, none of this.”

Nykia Hamilton, fired viral Burger King employee, creates GoFundMe campaign

In response to her firing and the overwhelming public support, Hamilton launched a GoFundMe campaign titled Support Burger King Mom. The fundraiser quickly gained traction, raising over $67,000. On the campaign page, Hamilton wrote:

“I am a 25-year-old single mom of 3 who works 2 jobs. I just went viral for working on TikTok. If you wanna contribute, it’s ok. Thank y’all for the support. I wasn’t expecting my life to change how it did. I really do everything for my kids.”

Corporate Response and Labor Concerns

Burger King has yet to issue a detailed public statement regarding Hamilton’s firing. However, the company previously emphasized that its policy requires multiple team members per shift and stated it was investigating the staffing breakdown at the Columbia location.