A woman has been left in tears after her plan to pay for strangers’ groceries turned into complete disaster.
Amelia Goldsmith from London increased TikTok to invite her followers as she went to her local grocery store looking for strangers who might need a helping hand.
She waited in the wings, looking for the best person to approach, but her attempts to help were repeatedly rebuffed, with a man asking “why?” before adding, “no, no, no, we don’t need it,” while Amelia added that he “looked angry.”
The fitness influencer was left in tears in the parking lot and admitted she had expected someone to be “overjoyed” with her efforts.
It echoes the story of Australian influencer Harrison Pawluk, who bragged that a customer was “just SO happy” with the bunch of flowers he gave her for a viral video – before publicly contradicting him, saying she felt “dehumanized”.
Amelia Goldsmith, from London, took to TikTok to invite her followers as she traveled to Sainsbury’s looking for strangers who might need a helping hand
Amelia ended up in tears after several strangers denied her attempts to pay for their groceries
On the way to Sainsbury’s, Amelia told the camera that she was planning to buy someone’s grocery store because ‘I just want to cheer someone up’.
While she was excited about her selfless plan, she had a few reservations, wondering if passersby would label her “weirdo” or ignore her altogether.
Her actions divided opinion, as some took to the post to reveal what they would do if approached, while others praised her for her courageous efforts.
She said on TikTok, “This is the result of me doing something really nice and wanting to buy someone’s grocery store. I felt super deflated and this is the video that shows it all.”
She continued: ‘So I’m here at Sainsbury’s, I’m going to buy someone’s grocery today because it’s Wednesday – I just want to cheer someone up. Midweek slump.”
Guys, I’m nervous. I just hope they don’t look at me and think I’m some crazy person. I’m afraid.’
She committed to the cause and instead loaded up a food bank with dried pasta and cooking sauce
Amelia then enters Sainsbury’s and is subsequently rejected by everyone she approaches.
“Everyone is staring and I don’t know what to do,” she said after her first attempt was rejected by a man who looked angry.
Elsewhere, a woman’s voice could be heard sounding nervous and saying “no” when Amelia made her offer, prompting the influencer to say, “I feel so ashamed and judged.”
On her next attempt, a woman said to her, “There are many more deserving people in this world, but thank you. I feel too good to take it.’
“I’m sure you’ve done some good in the world,” Amelia ventured, only to be rebuffed again.
Returning to the camera, she said, “That was stressful guys. That was really stressful. I really felt in panic mode.”
Australian influencer Harrison Pawluk, 22, interrupted Maree as she was drinking a takeaway coffee at Emporium Melbourne shopping center and asked her to hold the bouquet – before leaving it with her and wishing her a nice day
‘Don’t know. I felt like I expected someone to be, you know, overjoyed and grateful and happy that I’m paying for their groceries. But of course that was not well received.’
‘I was a little stunned. I think I’m going to cry to be honest. And the way the second person looked at me like I was some kind of absolute idiot and crazy. She said nothing. But she was really like “no, no, no” kind of stern.’
Nevertheless, Amelia was committed to the cause, no matter how “stressful,” and instead filled a food bank with multiple items, including dried pasta and cooking sauces — but her tears kept flowing throughout the video.
She continued, “I’m going to cry. I’m just really overwhelmed right now. It was a big challenge for me because I find social situations very difficult, especially when I bring a lot of attention to myself. I do not like that.’
But viewers were quick to point out something Amelia might have missed.
One of them said, “Such a nice gesture. But the advice would be not to go to Balham, where most people live in houses over £1 million.’
Another advised: ‘Sainsbury’s is way too mid-range. go to Asda/Aldi/Iceland where people will really need it.’
Commentators were divided, with some praising Amelia for her kind gesture, while others said they wouldn’t like it if they were approached and filmed so she can get more likes on TikTok.
A third agreed: ‘It probably didn’t work because of the kind of clientele that particular area has. People around me would be very grateful for that.’
Meanwhile, one person said it would make them feel ‘poor’: ‘I personally wouldn’t like it either, the filming scares me, but I would also think ‘oh do I look like I’m poor?’
However, Amelia was still praised for her sincere commitment, as one of them said, “Please don’t let this stop you from trying again or continuing to do your best to do kind things in the future.” You are such an angel.’
While another said, “Honestly so proud of you for doing that and sharing this.” The lesson here is that another person’s behavior or reaction is never a reflection of your benevolence and worth.”
Amelia’s post has been viewed nearly 800,000 times and has received more than 1,500 comments.