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Woman Who Witnessed Viral Walmart Tantrum Defends Child, Reveals What Sparked Meltdown
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Woman Who Witnessed Viral Walmart Tantrum Defends Child, Reveals What Sparked Meltdown

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A chaotic scene in a Walmart was captured in a now-viral video, triggering mixed reactions about parenting.

Amber Gregory, a shopper at the retail giant store, witnessed the child hurling items across the aisle and looking visibly distressed.

The child appeared unaccompanied by any parent or guardian, and her outburst lasted for about 45 minutes, according to Amber.

Highlights
  • A child's outburst at a Walmart store went viral on social media, fueling heated conversations about parenting.
  • The little girl was seen smashing bottles and hurling items on the floor in the clip.
  • One witness, Amber Gregory, stepped up and defended the child.
  • Amber said she is the mother of a neurodivergent child.
RELATED:

    A young child wreaked havoc in a Walmart, fueling a heated online conversation about parenting

    Image credits: I Meme Therefore I Am / X

    Image credits: I Meme Therefore I Am / X

    “Where is her mother — or whoever she’s with?” a Walmart shopper was heard asking in the viral clip.

    The tantrum escalated with her stomping on snacks, flinging dairy products, and eventually smashing bottles, sending shards of glass and red liquid splattering across the floor.

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    At some point in the video, two women were captured grappling the child and trying to stop her from destroying the products.

    “I know you’re just trying to restrain her, but I’m not touching nobody’s kid,” a shopper with a trolley was heard saying

    Image credits: I Meme Therefore I Am / X

    Image credits: I Meme Therefore I Am / X

    Bystanders, including some Walmart employees, appeared stunned, with a few attempting to intervene but quickly giving up when the girl resisted. Others whipped out their phones and filmed the child’s outburst.

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    Among the bystanders was Amber, who approached the child—not to scold or restrain her, but to shield her from the judgmental gazes and phone cameras.

    “Don’t record her, you don’t know what she’s going through! Don’t do that to a little girl,” she told the onlookers.

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    A shopper urged others not to film the girl and shared her own perspective of parenting a child with neurodivergence

    Image credits: I Meme Therefore I Am / X

    In an interview with TMZ, Gregory explained that the girl’s behavior reminded her of traits she observes in her own neurodivergent child.

    She criticized the bystanders who accused the child of being a “spoiled brat” when she appeared scared in the midst of the shopping aisle. She also accused them for choosing to record rather than help.

    The minor was “trying to hurt herself” with the broken glass from the smashed bottles, she said. When the parent finally arrived at the scene, they had to rush the daughter away from the crowd.

    Online commentators pointed fingers at the parents, accusing them of neglect and calling for accountability for the damages

    As the video circulated online, viewers voiced divided opinions. Many blamed the parents for failing to supervise their child, with some suggesting they should be held financially responsible for the destruction.

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    “That parent or grandparent should have to pay for every single item after Walmart presses charges for destruction of property,” one said.

    “I don’t care what she’s going through, stop messing with other people’s stuff,” read a second comment while a third wrote, “I understand she may have issues, but someone has to stop her.”

    “There’s no justification for allowing your child to run rampant and destroy products in a store,” one social media user said

    “There’s no justification for allowing your child to run rampant and destroy products in a store,” wrote another. “This isn’t a place to hold a therapy session.”

    Some also wondered what provoked the child to act out in this way.

    “Children acting this way are often testing their caregivers to see if they care enough to exercise some authority, control, and structure,” one person said.

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    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    Do you think bystanders should try to help in situations like the Walmart incident?

    Yes, they should intervene

    No, they should stay out of it

    Depends on the situation

    Not sure

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    Binitha Jacob

    Binitha Jacob

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

    Read less »
    Binitha Jacob

    Binitha Jacob

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

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    Corwin 02
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't give a hoot how "neurodivergent" this child is , a. the parent should be there and be forced to pay for all the damage caused b. the child should be taught how to behave in public, these kind of temper tantrums occur because they are enabled. c. Shop or mall security should have restrained this child with no fear of legal retaliation by enabler parent.

    Feathered Dinosaur
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes! And if your child really is neurodivergent and prone to this kind of thing, you don't let them out of your sight in public. My 3 year old can get overwhelmed in public and I would never leave her alone anywhere and during a meltdown I keep her and anything in the vicinity safe. Can't do anything against the screaming, but it usually subsides after a few minutes

    TruthoftheHeart
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You do have to wonder where the parents were during all this, no way my child goes missing for 45 minutes in the store and I'm not running through there yelling their name.

    Kylie
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amazing how we now have all these labels to avoid calling a kid a spoiled brat.

    Ace
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, "Neurodivergent" is just a label, not an excuse.

    Load More Comments
    Corwin 02
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't give a hoot how "neurodivergent" this child is , a. the parent should be there and be forced to pay for all the damage caused b. the child should be taught how to behave in public, these kind of temper tantrums occur because they are enabled. c. Shop or mall security should have restrained this child with no fear of legal retaliation by enabler parent.

    Feathered Dinosaur
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes! And if your child really is neurodivergent and prone to this kind of thing, you don't let them out of your sight in public. My 3 year old can get overwhelmed in public and I would never leave her alone anywhere and during a meltdown I keep her and anything in the vicinity safe. Can't do anything against the screaming, but it usually subsides after a few minutes

    TruthoftheHeart
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You do have to wonder where the parents were during all this, no way my child goes missing for 45 minutes in the store and I'm not running through there yelling their name.

    Kylie
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amazing how we now have all these labels to avoid calling a kid a spoiled brat.

    Ace
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, "Neurodivergent" is just a label, not an excuse.

    Load More Comments
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