Photo courtesy of Smithson Michael/ TikTok.
A video of delivery driver Smithson Michael went viral after he reacted to a measly $1.19 tip for an hour-long fare. The TikTok video was posted on June 2.
Michael posted the video after he received a shameful tip that moved him to tears. An exhausted and emotional Michael vented on the video and asked how people thought he was supposed to survive on one-dollar tips.
“I just wish people knew what it was like,” said an exasperated Michael. “I wish they understood what it was like to drive for these services,” he said about Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates.
“I just spent an hour driving around for $1.19 tip. I mean, would it hurt y’all to tip us? Throw us $5? I got a $1.19 tip and two dollars from the app. What’s that? That’s not even enough to cover gas. How am I supposed to survive like that?” he said.
@deliveryguy100#helpme #ubereatsdriver #traction #positiveforce♬ original sound – Smithson Michael
“Ever since the viral video a lot of people have been asking me to start a gofundme. I thank you all. I just wanted to make a difference and change something I feel is unfair to people that work hard. Thank you for supporting this!”
The delivery driver also said on the video that he was struggling to make ends meet. He had experienced homelessness and was behind on his car payments. Michael later said that he wished people would tip hard-working delivery drivers appropriately.
After the video went viral, Michael said he’d made the video so that people would change and tip delivery drivers decently. People began to ask him how they could help, so he began
a GoFundMe. He thanked those who wanted to help. The GoFundMe has raised $200 so far.