Michigan father-of-four who told a TikTok prankster 'it's not a joke to me' receives more than $250k in donations

Walt Z, a Red Baron delivery driver and father of four from Michigan, was targeted by a content creator who faked stealing $10 from his phone using a pre-recorded Apple Pay chime while he stocked store shelves. Walt's trembling response — "I got kids at home that went to bed without me, I was supposed to be home an hour ago, and I'm still out here working" — went viral after being reposted in late October, weeks after the original August clip was deleted.

GoFundMe organiser Luke Oakenshield, a stranger to Walt, launched the fundraiser to protect him from losing 'stability because someone wanted content and clicks.'

The prankster's Instagram account, @thea.ctiveworld, has since been deleted, along with other videos targeting retail workers.

Walt told the prankster he still had ten more stores to cover that night and feared being thrown out of the shop because of the confrontation.