A Burger King worker in South Carolina who went viral last month after running an entire restaurant alone for 12 hours has revealed she has since been fired by the fast food chain.
Nykia Hamilton, 25, became an internet sensation in July when a customer filmed her single-handedly running a Burger King branch in Columbia. The video, which quickly spread across social media, showed Hamilton juggling every aspect of the operation – from cooking fries and burgers to serving customers at the counter and even handling the drive-thru.
“She’s doing the fries, the burger, the chicken sandwiches. She’s doing everything by herself,” the customer could be heard saying in the clip, adding: “She’s doing everything she needs to do to make sure everybody is okay in here.”
The footage, which was first reported by the New York Post, brought widespread praise for Hamilton, who explained shortly afterwards that she had been left to manage the restaurant alone because of staff shortages. In an emotional interview with WACH Fox 57, she detailed how one worker had suddenly left, forcing her to cover the entire store.
“Had to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru,” she said, breaking down as she described the exhausting shift.
Hamilton’s story struck a chord with viewers, many of whom praised her dedication as a single mother of three children. But weeks after the video catapulted her into viral fame, Hamilton has now claimed she has been dismissed from her role at Burger King.
In a TikTok update to her followers, Hamilton said: “[Burger King] fired me because I’ve been late because of my kids. My kids come first. Y’all don’t pay for no babysitter, or nothing.”
The young mother went on to describe the toll her sudden fame has taken on her mental health, telling fans: “I’m already aggravated, I’m already depressed, all of this mental s***, and motherf****** f**king with me, so leave me alone.”
Despite losing her job, Hamilton’s story has sparked an outpouring of public support. A GoFundMe campaign launched in her name has already raised more than $64,000 at the time of writing. In her appeal, Hamilton described herself as “a 25-year-old single mom of 3 who works 2 jobs” and thanked those who had donated.
“I just went viral for working on TikTok. If you wanna contribute, it’s ok. Thank y’all for the support,” she wrote. “I wasn’t expecting my life to change how it did. I really do everything for my kids.”
Before her alleged dismissal, Hamilton spoke openly about the challenges of balancing long shifts with motherhood. She told WACH Fox 57 that she regularly worked more than 12 hours a day and often felt torn between her responsibilities at work and the time she missed with her 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.”
Her viral shift was not a one-off. Just a day later, Hamilton revealed she had once again been left to close the store by herself. “I closed again by myself last night,” she said. “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.”
The case has reignited debate around pay, staffing shortages, and working conditions in the fast food industry. Critics argue that frontline workers are frequently overburdened and underpaid, with little recognition from their employers.
Hamilton’s supporters have rallied around her online, portraying her story as symbolic of a wider struggle faced by low-wage workers in America. Many donors have described their contributions as a way of thanking her for her resilience.
Burger King has not yet publicly commented on Hamilton’s claims of dismissal. UNILAD confirmed it had reached out to the chain for a statement.
For Hamilton, the sudden turn of events has brought both hardship and opportunity. While she is no longer employed at the restaurant where she became a viral figure, the attention has given her a platform—and financial support—that she says she will use to continue caring for her children.
As she put it herself: “I really do everything for my kids.”