Delivery driver, on the verge of becoming homeless, goes viral in devastating video
Do you think tipping should be mandatory when you order food for delivery?
There is a TikTok video that has gone viral and touched thousands of people around the world.
The video, which features Uber driver Riley Elliot, shocked many viewers by exposing the reality of the financial struggles that many people have faced since the pandemic entered our lives.
The financial hardships of those who work in the restaurant and food industry has also been well documented.
Elliot opened the window to a much less seen pain of those who work in the food delivery business.
READ: Restaurants prepare to serve court challenge over ban
In the video, which has been widely viewed on TikTok and shared to hundreds of thousands of people, Riley is seen seated in his car, visibly emotional after completing another food delivery job. Riley starts off the video by saying: "Yall, I wish that people who order UberEats or Doordash understood what it's like to be a driver."
A tearful Riley goes on to explain that he had only been paid $2.50 for the 45-minute job, and had to pay $3 for parking as the customer wouldn’t come outside to meet him. He added that the customer gave him a $1.50 tip.
I gotta prove three times rent for income in two weeks and I can’t. It doesn’t matter that I’m working multiple jobs, that I barely sleep, that I can barely afford to feed myself. I’m about to be homeless for the third time since May and it’s all because people don’t tip their delivery drivers. Like, how hard is it to throw us five bucks. I’m out here risking my life in a pandemic and no one cares.
You can watch his heartfelt plea in the video below:
Something needs to be done about this. pic.twitter.com/PvxbgiQl2s
— Christian St. Croix (@SaintsCrossing) February 17, 2021
The video was shared on Twitter where it accumulated 3.4-million views. The sentiment from the comments mirrored those on TikTok. People sympathised with Riley, whilst also debating whether or not the customers were to blame for the lack of tips, as opposed to the businesses themselves.
Whilst that debate is still ongoing, the discussion then moved to complete strangers starting a Go Fund Me accounts for Riley, who was on the verge of being homeless after he posted this video.
Riley thanked everyone for the overwhelming words of support as well as donations, which allowed him to move into a new home.
What a feel-good Tuesday story!
Does Riley's story make you rethink how you tip the people who deliver your food?
Listen to the podcast to hear Riley's heartwarming story:
Main image credit: Tik Tok screenshot
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