An Uber Eats delivery driver has broken down in tears after getting a less than $2 tip for an hour-long delivery.

Food delivery driver Smithson Michael - who goes by the handle @itssmithsonmichael on TikTok - took to the social media platform to give viewers a true glimpse into what it's like to work in the food industry.

In his viral video, Michael spoke about how he wishes people knew what it was really like to deliver for companies like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Postmates...

... Especially when it comes to tipping.

Michael says through tears in the video: "I wish people knew what it was like to deliver for Uber Eats. Postmates, DoorDash, all these companies," before explaining a situation he was in recently where he was driving around for an hour to make a delivery, but only received a $1.19 tip from the customer.

"I mean, would it hurt y'all to tip us, throw us five dollars? I got a $1.19 tip and two dollars from the app... That's not even enough to cover gas. How am I supposed to survive like that?"

Then, after explaining his recent financial struggles, Michael ended the video by saying: "I wish people knew what it was like. I wish they understood what it was like to drive for these services."

In the caption on the video, Michael wrote that his vehicle was sadly repossessed after making the TikTok, adding: "My car was repoed and sold after this. If possible please tip your driver it goes a long way. you never know how much it means to them."

Buzzfeed later reported on the viral clip, where they wrote that Michael had worked in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York for a little over a year.

Though, as with most things on the internet, the public response was quite divided.

One user played the Devil's advocate, writing that a larger tip may have been unreasonable. "I understand. But the food be like 15. Tax, delivery fee, and tip gon bring to 24. That's outrageous [sic]," they said.

Though, others empathized with Michael, with one person writing: "I'm sorry to hear your struggling with this bro! Sending you good vibes of abundance your way!" (sic)

One user even suggested Michael get a "real job", to which Michael shared a video in which he discussed how there are certain people who actually rely on delivery drivers, and that some people "need" jobs like delivery drivers as it actually fits around their lives.

When his video began gaining traction on social media, Michael continued to advocate on behalf of those in the food service industry, tweeting: "I am the voice of the foodservice industry workers that deserve respect, proper pay, and better treatment. No one deserves to work, and be paid so little. Especially not in an unprecedented time where the demand for these services is at an all-time high."

He adds: "This spans to different sectors of the industry that aren’t being compensated enough as well. Someone has to do this work. Tips are at the discretion of the consumer. But pay and treatment is at the discretion of the companies, and that is who needs the work."

Featured image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

A heartbreaking video by an UberEats delivery driver has highlighted the importance of customers leaving a tip.

Uploaded to TikTok earlier this week, the video by Riley Elliot [legal name Riley Todd], lays bare the financial hardships faced by many food delivery drivers.

While Riley revealed in a subsequent video that he had just nine followers at the time of posting, his video widely resonated with TikTok users, he has now amassed over 17,000 followers.

In the viral video, Riley can be seen crying in a vehicle after completing a food delivery job.

He says: "Y'all I wish that people who order UberEats or Doordash understood what it's like to be a driver."

He explained that he was paid just $2.50 for the 45-minute job, and he had to pay $3 parking as the customer refused to come outside to meet him, and they tipped just $1.50.

"I gotta prove three times rent for income in two weeks and I can't," he said. "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?"

He added in the caption: "I'm out here risking my life in a pandemic and no one cares."

The video was subsequently shared on Twitter where, at the time of writing, it has been viewed over 3.7 million times.

A debate was subsequently sparked on Twitter about why Jones was being paid just $2.50 for 45 minutes' work in the first place.

One Twitter user wrote: "It's very nice that people are trying to help this man, but the real problem is - why is he getting paid only $2.50 from Ubereats? What sort of crazy wage is that?!!? People shouldn't have to go out there and BEG for tips in order to survive. We need fair pay!"

A second added: "Lmao, where is your anger for the multi million [sic] dollar delivery/food/service industries who refuse to pay their workers properly? The onus should not be on the customer to supplement the person’s wage.

"Companies shouldn’t treat American service workers like sh*t. Pressure them."

Meanwhile, a third Twitter user took a more balanced view of the situation, writing: "It's devastating and horrifying. These people, from the corporations to the bad tippers themselves, need to be called out."

Riley revealed in a subsequent video that as a result of his original TikTok, he has now received enough donations to move into a new home.

However, while Riley's situation might have improved, it is important to remember that there are countless others like him the next time you order food.

An Uber driver facing homelessness has made waves online after begging customers to leave tips in a heartbreaking TikTok video,

Riley Elliot, who hails from Seattle, took to his TikTok page @livefreestudios, and explained to his viewers how difficult it is to be a delivery driving for companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash, especially in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In the caption, he wrote: "I’m out here risking my life in a pandemic and no one cares."

"Y’all I wish that people who order Uber Eats or Doordash understood what it’s like to be a driver," he said in the video. Riley explained how he'd only been paid $2.50 for a delivery that took 45 minutes, cost him $3 in parking, and the customer only 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?''

''If you do not tip your delivery driver there is a very special place in hell for your lazy ass that could not be bothered to get your food. Also these services should require a minimum tip of 15% especially during this time," wrote one Twitter user in response to the video.

At the time of writing, he has over 3.5 million views, and his follower-count has increased to more than 17,500.

Riley has now received donations from all over the world, and per the Seattle Times, it has allowed him and his partner to move into a new home.

In a later video, he thanked donators for their support. In it, he revealed that his favourite soccer team. Seattle Sounders FC made a donation. "It was the greatest day of my life up until now," he stated.

According to the Seattle Times, Riley was incredibly generous with the money recieved. He reportedly gave $12,000 away to others who were also struggling to pay their bills. "My whole body has just been buzzing with positive energy from all of these people. I get choked up because I’ve been bullied my whole life and people actually appreciate how hard I’m trying. It means a lot," he told the publication.

A delivery driver on the brink of homelessness went viral on TikTok after begging customers to leave tips in a heartbreaking video.

Seattle-based driver Riley Elliot caught people's attention in 2021 when he took to his TikTok page and explained to his viewers how difficult it is to be a delivery driver for companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Across the globe, people were suffering with both their health and their finances as Covid-19 sent the whole world into a series of lockdowns to prevent the spread of the new virus, which went on to claim millions of lives worldwide. Its after-effects are still being felt to this day.

In the caption of his heartfelt video, Riley wrote: "I’m out here risking my life in a pandemic and no one cares."

"Y’all I wish that people who order Uber Eats or Doordash understood what it’s like to be a driver," he said in the video. Riley explained how he'd only been paid $2.50 for a delivery that took 45 minutes, cost him $3 in parking, and the customer only 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?''

''If you do not tip your delivery driver there is a very special place in hell for your lazy a** that could not be bothered to get your food. Also these services should require a minimum tip of 15% especially during this time," wrote one Twitter user in response to the video.

While Riley's original video appears to have been deleted, the clip amassed over 3.5 million views at the time, and his follower count increased to more than 21,000.

Riley received donations from all over the world following the posting of the video, and per his hometown newspaper Seattle Times, it allowed him and his partner to move into a new home.

In a later video, Riley thanked all of his donators for their overwhelming financial support. In the follow up post, he also made the amazing revelation that his favourite soccer team, Seattle Sounders FC, of MLS, similarly made a donation after being made aware of the video. "It was the greatest day of my life up until now," Riley stated.

According to the Seattle Times, Riley was incredibly generous with the money received. He reportedly gave $12,000 away to others who were also struggling to pay their bills.

"My whole body has just been buzzing with positive energy from all of these people. I get choked up because I’ve been bullied my whole life and people actually appreciate how hard I’m trying. It means a lot," he told the publication.

Featured Image Credit: Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty