A Burger King worker who gained attention for handling an entire restaurant by herself for a 12-hour shift has shared a new update after losing her job.
Nykia Hamilton became an internet sensation in July when footage of her single-handedly operating a Burger King outlet in Columbia, South Carolina went viral.
The mother of three was seen juggling responsibilities at both the front counter and drive-thru, as well as preparing meals for customers, all by herself.
“[She’s] doing the fries, the burger, the chicken sandwiches. She’s doing everything by herself,” a customer remarked in the original TikTok clip. “She’s doing everything she needs to do to make sure everybody is okay in here.”
According to WACH Fox 57, Hamilton explained she was working solo due to a staffing shortage caused by an employee leaving abruptly.
“Had to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru,” she described.
Unfortunately, Hamilton later revealed on TikTok that she was let go by Burger King, attributing her dismissal to being ‘late because of my kids’.
The 25-year-old commented: “My kids come first. Y’all don’t pay for no babysitter, or nothing.”
Before her reported firing, Hamilton shared with WACH Fox 57 that she often worked shifts longer than 12 hours to support her three children.
“I be missing out on my kids’ lives when I work so much,” she said. “I have to provide for them, but I really don’t have time to spend with them, and it hurts me a lot.”
She also posted a video on Instagram of her sore legs, the result of standing for extended periods.
Currently, Hamilton has provided a fresh update on her TikTok and Instagram profiles, sharing her first ‘get ready with me’ video as she ventures into content creation.
With her newfound platform, Hamilton is engaging with an audience that appreciates her content.
The 10-minute video features Hamilton waking her children, preparing them for the day, discussing their eating habits, and providing updates on their lives since her job loss.
Her followers have taken note of her resilience, offering kind words and advice on navigating life after unemployment.
One supporter commented: “Keep ur head up momma your doing a great job, you have people rooting for you in rooms you arnt in! single mom to single mom your an inspiration.”
Another added: “I’m so sorry they did you dirty, you have grounds to sue for wrongful termination and a hostile work environment. You’re a very strong individual and an amazing mom, you’ll be taken care of soon.”
Although she didn’t reference the Burger King incident in this video, Hamilton has previously expressed feeling overwhelmed by the support she has received since the incident went viral.
In another video, she shared plans to ‘bless’ her mother with the donations from a GoFundMe campaign—which has amassed $74,000 in contributions—by covering her rent.
In her fundraiser message, 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.”
The media outlet previously reached out to Burger King for a statement.