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The internet is torn over a viral video that shows a group of Walmart employees using price scanners as pretend guns. The post has surpassed over 20,000 likes and 295,000 views. The caption over the video overlay said, "they all got fired," stirring up a heated debate in the comments about whether the events really took place — and if so, whether it was justified.
Flash warning: strobe light effects in the video
As shown in the short clip — uploaded by @mbkstank — several employees pointed price scanners directly at the camera as if they were guns, giving off a strobe light effect. Some of the workers appeared from behind the shelves, while another rode a bicycle. Another pushed a wagon. The caption accompanying the video read, "They got Walmart lit though."
Walmart currently has over 10,000 stores in 24 different countries around the world with roughly 2 million employees — about 1.6 million working in the United States. Currently, the hourly wage at the company starts at $18 and offers free education and language classes amongst other benefits to their full time employees. The content sparked divisive comments with some defending the allegedly "fired" employees for being "cute."
"Walmart not firing no employees unless you stealing or you quit yourself they barely have employees now," @Katrina said.
@dopestylz_clothing wrote, "but it was so cool. actually made me want to go shop. sad"
"That's the stores loss now they have to replace every single employee they just fired the store took an L on that one" @jodecy60 exclaimed.
"This was cute though!! You have to make the best at where you work!" @user7334136253850 commented.
"lol not gonna lie. I thought I was watching a laser tag commercial" @Joe said.
@Dee questioned the company, "have HR show me the paperwork where this is illegal."
The other side of the comments noted the lack of professionalism.
"It doesn't matter who told ! you are supposed to be working not playing around," @artimepi said, also commenting, "Customers should start calling corporate and writing letters to the president (Walmart CEO) about stuff like this."
"This is a business not a play ground." @Marquise wrote.
The TikTok page where the video was originally posted showed other videos with a similar theme. Some captions said, "they got expelled," suggesting all the videos could be related. It is unclear if the employees in the viral video were fired or if the videos are meant for social media.
Newsweek reached out to Walmart and @mkbstank for comment.
About the writer
Ashley Gale is a Newsweek reporter based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her focus is reporting on trends. She has covered trends, ... Read more