In New York City, a man found himself in the middle of a viral TikTok after stealing a pair of shoes from a woman’s apartment and gifting them to his girlfriend without telling his date. The woman, whose identity remains unknown, posted a video on TikTok calling out the man for his actions. In a follow-up video, she revealed that the man had reached out to her and admitted to stealing the shoes, but only after gaslighting her about the incident.
It Went VIRAL
The incident went viral, with thousands of people agreeing that the man had wronged the woman. Andrea Bonior, a clinical psychologist and host of the “Baggage Check: Mental Health Talk and Advice” podcast, explained that people seek validation when they feel they’ve been scammed or wronged. Posting about it online can often reverse the feeling of powerlessness and give people a sense of justice.
Viral Videos
The viral #TattooGate and #CakeGate controversies are other examples of unhappy customers accusing businesses of scamming them out of quality goods and services. These instances go viral because people feel vindicated in seeking justice on someone else’s behalf, even if that person is a stranger.
An Online Support System
Cheyenne Bryant, a life coach who has appeared on “Teen Mom: Family Reunion” and has a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, explained that people appreciate connecting with others in a shared frustration over an argument in which they’ve taken the same side. “This builds allies and alliances that empower the individual posting their issue,” she said. “It enables them to increase momentum and aids them in building a culture around the issue. It can also be cathartic for them: making them feel as though they have a support system and are not alone.”
Romance Scams
The true crime genre and sordid tales of scamming have become increasingly popular in recent years. Nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam in 2022, with losses at $1.3 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, explained that we are “biologically wired to pay attention to danger,” which speaks to our collective fascination with the true crime genre and sordid tales of scamming.
Gossip Lovers
“People have always been engaged by gossip and conflict,” said Gayle Stever, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at Empire State University of New York. “Today, because the boundaries of our social worlds have expanded, we learn about these things from a distance, but the human proclivity to weigh in on something that is essentially none of our business is irresistible for many – not all – people.”
Power of Social Media
The woman’s TikTok video and the subsequent drama surrounding the shoe thief highlights the power of social media and the internet in bringing attention to issues of injustice. However, it also raises concerns about cancel culture and the potential for online shaming to go too far.
Real People
As Bonior explained, “It’s important to remember that there are real people behind these screens, and that they can be hurt by the things that are said about them online.” It’s important to hold people accountable for their actions, but it’s also important to approach these situations with empathy and understanding.
Cautionary Tale
The shoe thief incident serves as a cautionary tale for anyone considering scamming or mistreating someone on a date. With the power of social media and the internet, it’s easier than ever for people to call out bad behavior and seek justice. As Stever said, “It’s a reminder that the internet is a public space, and that actions have consequences.”
The Internet Responded
This commenter posted with this opinion, “How does this man have the sheer audactiy to steal a woman’s shoes? I realize they’re designer but come on man! Have some morals! If you’re broke just say that. Don’t steal some trendy girls shoes after a date, that’s so suss. Men are so weird nowadays, it’s no wonder everyone’s single. Stay safe girls protect your closet!”
More Internet Responses
Another person commented and said this, “Okay but has anyone actually seen those shoes? They’re so weird and disgusting! Let the man steal them, good riddance! They make you look like you’ve got cow hooves! How did he even have the chance to steal them? Such a weird situation all round. Maybe she’s lying for views…”
A Final Comment
This person posted this comment about the situation, “Did the woman file a police report for theft? Or did she go straight to the internet? That’s what’s wrong with this generation of women. They’re so quick to complain but they don’t actually do anything constructive about the situation. Like you need to go to the police if you’ve had something stolen but instead she’s grabbed her phone and jumped on to TikTok to try and get 5 seconds of fame and go a little bit viral. It’s so pathetic, she deserved to have her stupid shoes stolen.”
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