Burger King employee who went viral running entire store for 12 hours alone reveals she’s now been fired

A Burger King worker who went viral for single-handedly running a restaurant has now claimed she has been fired.

Nykia Hamilton, a 25-year-old mother of three from Columbia, South Carolina, gained attention in July after a customer filmed her managing an entire Burger King location alone for 12 hours. She handled every station, from the drive-thru and front counter to cooking and cleaning.

Hamilton later explained the ordeal was due to severe staff shortages after an employee quit unexpectedly. She told WACH Fox 57 that she had no choice but to juggle dishes, prep work, and serving customers to keep the store open.

In a recent TikTok update, Hamilton said the company has since dismissed her. She claimed she was let go because she was late to shifts while caring for her children. “My kids come first,” she said, adding that Burger King did not provide childcare support.

The viral fame has taken a toll on her mental health. She admitted feeling depressed and overwhelmed by the sudden attention, pleading for privacy.

Since losing her job, Hamilton has launched a GoFundMe page. Donations have already exceeded $64,000, with supporters rallying behind her story. She thanked contributors, saying she works two jobs to provide for her children and never expected her life to change so dramatically.

Before her alleged firing, Hamilton revealed she often worked 12-hour shifts and sometimes closed the restaurant alone on consecutive nights, citing the chain’s chronic staffing shortages.