Burger King Mom Fired After Viral 12-Hour Solo Shift in Columbia
COLUMBIA, SC – A Burger King employee in Columbia who gained widespread attention last month for single-handedly running an entire restaurant for 12 hours now says she’s been fired — a move that has stirred backlash and sparked a wave of public support.
Nykia Hamilton, a 25-year-old single mother of three, first went viral in July after a customer posted a video of her working alone at the fast-food chain due to a staffing crisis. The clip showed her juggling all responsibilities — from drive-thru and front counter to cooking and cleaning — without any help.
“She’s doing everything by herself,” the customer narrated. “She’s doing the fries, the burgers, the chicken sandwiches — everything she needs to do to make sure everybody is okay in here.”
Staff shortage pushed her to breaking point
Hamilton told WACH Fox 57 that the extreme situation was caused by a last-minute employee exit, leaving her to manage every task. “Had to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru,” she recounted emotionally.
Though many online praised her dedication and resilience, Hamilton now says the company let her go — blaming her for being late to work due to childcare issues. “Burger King fired me because I’ve been late because of my kids,” she explained in a TikTok update. “My kids come first. Y’all don’t pay for no babysitter, or nothing.”
From viral fame to financial struggle
Hamilton’s emotional video quickly spread, prompting thousands to offer words of support. She revealed that the sudden fame has weighed heavily on her mental health.
“I’m already aggravated, I’m already depressed… So leave me alone,” she said, visibly distressed.
In response to her job loss, Hamilton launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her get back on her feet. As of this week, the fundraiser has garnered more than $64,000. In the post, she wrote:
“I am a 25-year-old single mom of 3 who works 2 jobs. I just went viral for working on TikTok. I wasn’t expecting my life to change how it did. I really do everything for my kids.”
Ongoing struggles as a working mother
Before she was terminated, Hamilton told WACH she often worked grueling 12-hour shifts and regularly closed the store alone, including the night after her now-viral day.
“I closed again by myself last night,” she said at the time. “I finally got help today. 11 o’clock and will stay until close at 11.”
She added: “We just don’t have any employees. Nobody wants to work anymore.”
Burger King has not commented publicly on the situation.
If you have a reaction to Nykia Hamilton’s story or thoughts on how South Carolina businesses are handling labor shortages, we want to hear from you. Share your opinion in the comments or visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for more community coverage.
