A Burger King employee who captured national attention after being filmed running an entire restaurant by herself for 12 hours has now revealed that she was fired, a development that has left many people shocked and outraged. Twenty-five-year-old Nykia Hamilton, a single mother of three from Columbia, South Carolina, first went viral in July when a customer posted a video showing her handling every aspect of a Burger King location with no other employees in sight.

In the clip, the customer expressed amazement as Hamilton moved between stations, preparing fries, grilling burgers, assembling chicken sandwiches, and managing the drive-thru and front counter all at once. “She’s doing everything she needs to do to make sure everybody is okay in here,” the customer said in disbelief, noting how she continued to serve each customer with determination despite the immense workload. Hamilton later explained in an interview with WACH Fox 57 that she was left alone that day due to a sudden staffing shortage after another worker quit with little notice. “Had to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru,” she said, describing the exhausting experience through tears. Her dedication and resilience quickly earned her praise online, with many hailing her as the embodiment of hard work in the face of impossible circumstances. Yet the story has taken a heartbreaking turn. In a TikTok update, Hamilton revealed that Burger King had fired her.

She explained that her termination was linked to her being late, something she said was unavoidable as she juggled childcare responsibilities. “[Burger King] fired me because I’ve been late because of my kids,” she said. “My kids come first. Y’all don’t pay for no babysitter, or nothing.” Her comments highlighted the daily struggles of many working parents who face impossible choices between their jobs and their children. The emotional toll of her sudden fame also weighed on her, with Hamilton admitting that while going viral brought support, it also magnified her stress and mental health challenges. “I’m already aggravated, I’m already depressed, all of this mental stuff, and people keep messing with me, so leave me alone,” she said candidly. After losing her job, Hamilton turned to GoFundMe to help her stay afloat financially while caring for her children.

On her fundraiser page, she described herself as a single mom working two jobs to support her family, never expecting her life to change so drastically after a viral video. “I wasn’t expecting my life to change how it did,” she wrote. “I really do everything for my kids.” Her honesty and vulnerability touched thousands of people, leading to an outpouring of donations. At the time of reporting, her GoFundMe had raised more than $64,000, with supporters from across the country offering words of encouragement along with financial help. Before her firing, Hamilton had spoken openly about the sacrifices she made to keep her family afloat, often working 12-hour shifts or longer.

She admitted that while she worked tirelessly to provide for her children, the long hours left her missing milestones in their lives, something that pained her deeply. “I be missing out on my kids’ lives when I work so much,” she explained. “I have to provide for them, but I really don’t have time to spend with them, and it hurts me a lot.” Her dedication to her job was evident even after the viral shift. The very next day, she said she was asked to close the restaurant again by herself, admitting, “I closed again by myself last night. I finally got help today. 11 o’clock and will stay until close at 11.” She attributed the challenges at her location to a chronic staffing shortage, adding, “We just don’t have any employees.

Nobody wants to work anymore.” Her story has sparked larger conversations about the state of the fast-food industry, where employees are often expected to work long, grueling hours with little support and low pay. Many social media users have argued that Hamilton should have been celebrated and rewarded by the company for stepping up during a crisis, not punished for the unavoidable difficulties of balancing parenthood with such demanding work. Critics of Burger King say the firing reflects a broader failure of corporations to support employees who face personal and family struggles. Hamilton’s experience highlights not only the fragility of low-wage jobs but also the challenges faced by single parents across America who are forced to stretch themselves thin in order to survive.

As of now, Burger King has not provided an official statement regarding Hamilton’s dismissal. In the meantime, her GoFundMe continues to receive donations, and her story remains a reminder of the resilience and sacrifice of workers who keep businesses running under extraordinary pressure. For many, Nykia Hamilton has become more than just a viral sensation—she represents the countless unseen workers who struggle every day to balance work, family, and survival in an unforgiving system.