According to the video‘s creator, a TikTok video captures a routine transaction at a Walmart checkout that escalates into an online debate about employee conduct and racial profiling. The footage, posted by a creator named Luli, shows a store employee scanning several Toy Story toys for a young boy. The interaction appears straightforward until the video’s on-screen text and caption introduce a different interpretation of the events.
The video opens with a Walmart employee at a checkout station assisting a child and an adult male, who is off-screen. On-screen text at the beginning of the video reads, “WHEN THE EMPLOYEE WANTS TO TREAT YOU LIKE A THIEF. 👧🏽.” The creator’s accompanying caption states, “YES IM BROWN, YES IM FULL OF TATTOOS BUT DAMN #racialprofiling #walmart #fyp #mexican #tattoo.”
In the clip, the employee, wearing a blue vest, scans a Toy Story box featuring the character Woody that the child is holding. The child looks up and says, “Hi!” The employee then asks the adult off-screen, “Did you want to buy warranty?” The adult replies, “No, we’re good.”
The employee then takes a second Toy Story box, this one featuring the character Jessie, from the child’s hands to scan it. She says, “Okay, I’ll get them. I got them, I got them. Thank you. I got it.” The child takes the box back from her. The adult off-screen instructs the child, “Put it down.” The employee adds, “Yeah, it’s going to be right here.”
As the employee scans a third Toy Story box, the child points at the toy inside and says, “Go get Woody. It’s Woody.” The adult off-screen then comments, “I don’t know why you guys have to have chocolate anyway,” referring to items on the counter. The employee responds, “Yeah, so I just have to lift that up. Okay.” The video ends as the employee prepares to scan the next item.
Online reaction focuses on employee’s handling of the toys
The video has generated a significant response in its comment section, with many viewers focusing on the employee’s physical handling of the merchandise. Several commenters expressed irritation with the employee’s actions. One comment stated, “Girl absolutely TF NOT!!! Why does she feel like she can pull the items off the baby?!!! 😡😡😡 I would’ve lost my mind 😤.”
Another commenter wrote, “That’s not OK she shouldn’t be touching the stuff that you’re paying for. I would report her to the HR.” A different user suggested a solution to such frustrations, saying, “If they want to ring it up then open up some more damn lanes.”
Some comments generalized the experience. One user remarked, “I really dislike Walmart employees.” Another comment referenced the self-checkout option, stating, “It’s self check out for a reason. Meaning I can do it my damn self. I would’ve been irritated.” A further comment questioned the adult’s response, asking, “How could you ALLOW her?! I don’t get it?!”
According to the video’s creator, the creator’s caption and on-screen text explicitly frame the incident as racial profiling, linking the employee’s behavior to the creator’s appearance. The public comments, however, largely center on the perceived overreach of the employee in handling the child’s items during the transaction. Neither Walmart nor the employee have publicly commented on the video.
