Man says he was stopped by TSA over a briefcase his grandmother told him not to open
A man has revealed how the 'early Christmas present' his grandmother surprised him with almost got him arrested at the airport.
Brett Gaffney, a 23-year-old actor from Los Angeles, went viral on TikTok after he shared how his grandmother gave him a heavy suitcase at Thanksgiving but wouldn't tell him what was inside.
The Kansas native said she was adamant he waited until he landed in California to open the mysterious gift.
'I thought, “What's in the suitcase? It's super heavy.” And she said, “Just wait until you get there.” I was like, 'Grandma, I'm going to the airport, like I need to know,'” he explained in the video.
Brett Gaffney, a 23-year-old actor from Los Angeles, went viral on TikTok after he shared how his grandmother gave him a briefcase but wouldn't tell him what was inside
The Kansas native recalled how he almost didn't make it to the airport because when TSA agents asked him what was in the suitcase, he admitted he didn't know.
Despite his concerns, he complied with her wishes and did not open the suitcase.
“So I'm going through security at the airport and the machine goes off, and it's flagged as it goes through the conveyor belt. The man tells me what's inside. And I'm like, “Why did she…”
Gaffney, who was visibly stunned by the gift, then turned the camera to the suitcase and opened it, revealing the vintage Smith Corona 250 typewriter inside.
'Who am I Tom Hanks?' he asked, referring to the actor's collection of more than 250 typewriters. “Am I going to go to the park and…write a whole book with a typewriter?”
Gaffney noted that he almost didn't make it to the airport because when the TSA agents asked him what was in the suitcase, he admitted he didn't know.
“They said, 'What do you mean? You have a briefcase with you and you don't know what's in it?'” he recalled.
In a moment of panic he told them, “It's a surprise.”
“Grandma's trying to get me arrested,” he joked in the text on the screen.
Gaffney, who was visibly stunned by the gift, then turned the camera to the suitcase and opened it, revealing the vintage Smith Corona 250 typewriter inside.
Gaffney's video has been viewed nearly 445,000 times and received more than 1,100 comments since it was posted on November 24.
After the TSA agents saw that it was a typewriter, he was allowed through security and was able to make his flight.
Gaffney added in the caption that airport security told him this was the second typewriter they had seen that day.
The video has been viewed nearly 445,000 times and received more than 1,100 comments since it was posted on November 24.
“I feel like the words 'I don't know, it's a surprise' shouldn't be said to TSA, let alone all at once,” one person responded.
“Oh no, I'll definitely check. Grandma Escobar doesn't get me in trouble,” someone else joked.
Gaffney gave viewers updates on the typewriter in a series of follow-up videos, saying he ordered a new ribbon and lubricating oil to get it working again
He also filmed himself searching the inside of the suitcase, which led to him finding a $2 bill folded in a bag
“Oh, this is classic grandma,” he said, explaining that $2 bills are special to his family and are meant to be saved
“Well, now you have a story to write,” another added.
Others were curious about the gift and suggested he look inside the suitcase to see if his grandmother had hidden another surprise.
Gaffney gave viewers updates on the typewriter in a series of follow-up videos, saying he ordered a new ribbon and lubricating oil to get it working again.
He also filmed himself searching the inside of the suitcase, which led to him finding a $2 bill folded in a small bag.
“Oh, this is classic grandma,” he said, explaining that $2 bills are special to his family and are meant to be saved.
“If someone gives you $2. You don't spend it, but you hold on to it, because that is a sign of happiness.'