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.
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