A Red Baron worker told a prankster he couldn’t pay his mortgage, then strangers raised $784,000 and he asked them to give to someone else

A Red Baron worker who faced public harassment by a streamer has officially paused his GoFundMe campaign after the internet raised $784,273 to help him get back on his feet. The man, known as Walt Z, was stocking shelves at a store in Michigan when the incident occurred. A streamer approached him and pretended to steal money from his digital wallet using a fake Apple Pay chime.

As reported by the LADbible, the interaction, which was filmed back in August, reached a breaking point when Walt expressed his frustration. He told the person, “This is not a joke to me, OK? I don’t have time for this c in my life. My life is hard enough as it is. I don’t need this. I have kids at home that were put to bed without me now, because I was supposed to be at home an hour ago and I’m still out here working. And I gotta get up at five in the morning and do ten more stores, so this is not a joke to me.”

When the streamer attempted an apology, Walt was not having it. He replied, “No, you’re not sorry because you’ve got a smug look on your face. You’re probably making money off this! I can’t even pay my g**** mortgage, and I got four kids at home!”

Over 22,000 people contributed to the fundraiser 

The video went viral this week after being shared on X. One user on the platform noted, “Sickening punks. Praying for the working man here. This makes me sick.” Another person added, “Nuisance streamers are the scum of the Earth.”

Luke Oakenshield, a viewer who saw the clip, decided to take action by starting a fundraiser. He wrote that the effort was about standing up for a person who is working hard and should not have to worry about stability just because someone else wanted clicks. Over 22,000 people contributed to the total, nearly reaching the $900,000 goal.

Red Baron also joined the conversation on X, posting an image that stated, “Employee of the month nominations are now closed.” The company noted that Walt still has a fan club, which includes them.

Walt later shared a message of gratitude regarding the support his family received. He stated, “Your kind words have meant the world to my family and I this past week. I still cannot believe how much you have all rallied behind us, and I can never thank you enough. I’ve been able to spend lots of extra time at home with my family this week.”

Walt decided to pause the donations and stay out of the public eye to prioritize his family. He encouraged those who still want to give to look toward local charities, churches, or other fundraisers that help families in need during the holiday season. He concluded his update by saying, “Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and for making my family feel so supported. We will never forget it.”