From workplace meltdowns to embarrassing public moments, some regular folks have seen their lives change forever due to viral videos. Join us as we count down shocking incidents where everyday people lost their jobs after being caught on camera behaving badly. When the record button is rolling, careers can unravel in minutes!
00:00I'm being threatened by a man into the ramble. Please send the cops immediately.
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the infamous times folks who aren't celebrities
00:09committed a shocking scandal that was captured on camera, leading to them losing their jobs.
00:14What's wrong with a little twerk before work?
00:17Number 9. Nell Dialla
00:19In 2024, Dialla was working as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines.
00:24During a layover, she was waiting for over two hours for the pilots to arrive
00:28and was celebrating nearing the end of her probation period.
00:31So, with an empty plane, Dialla made a TikTok video of herself dancing and twerking in the aisle.
00:36I decided to just take advantage of the moment to wake myself up.
00:40Instead of the company enjoying an increase in its online presence as the video went viral,
00:45Alaska Airlines deemed Dialla had broken the employee's social media policy, resulting in her dismissal.
00:50What did they say to you?
00:51They just said that I broke their social media policy.
00:55The former employee then created a crowdfunding page to help raise money as she searched for new work.
01:00When Dialla was interviewed at Inside Edition, she disclosed her belief that a racial element played a role in her firing.
01:07It just was unfair.
01:08Number 8. Brianna Pinnocks
01:10If you look at Pinnocks' website, which promotes her work, she mentions her compassion several times.
01:15However, in 2023, there was little of that when she was aboard a New Jersey transit train to New York City.
01:21Seemingly intoxicated, Pinnocks had a real problem with a group of German tourists.
01:26She was captured on camera, getting in their faces, and going on a xenophobic rant, telling them to get out of her country.
01:36How about you get the f*** out of our country?
01:38Throughout, Pinnocks' partner does his best to take her away, even threatening to break up with her unless she stops.
01:44Please stop this, please. Please stop this or I'm never going to talk to them.
01:49When the viral video caught the attention of her employers, the pharmaceutical company Capital Rx, where she worked as a senior talent acquisition specialist, the firm fired her.
01:58I can handle my own.
02:00Number 7. Seven Popeyes Milwaukee Workers
02:03When it comes to fighting in a fast food restaurant, usually, the brawls are between customers and workers, or only customers.
02:10Well, in 2019, the formula was remade as a group of workers at a Popeyes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, kicked off dramatically.
02:17I heard one of them yell, it's a fight.
02:22Recorded by a customer who just wanted something to eat, seven employees, for an unknown reason, began brawling in the kitchen.
02:28The fight then spilled out into the restaurant, which was captured on camera, as the workers started throwing items at each other.
02:35Soon, the situation cools off, but words and wigs are still flying.
02:40In the end, the police arrived to de-escalate the situation.
02:44However, no arrests were made.
02:45Regardless, Popeyes fired all seven involved in the battle, including the manager.
02:50As a result of this, seven employees were terminated from the company, including the manager, on duty.
02:56Number 6. Brian Gilly
02:58As a DARE police officer who teaches children the dangers of substance abuse, it wasn't unusual for Gilly to be at the Castle Heights Elementary School in Lebanon, Tennessee.
03:08However, for whoever checked his body cam in 2024, they were in for visuals they weren't expecting.
03:14You're the one teases me all night long.
03:17Shortly after a child left the classroom, Gilly and teacher Shelby Moss seemingly got very intimate there and then.
03:23To make it more scandalous, Moss was married to someone else at the time.
03:27Alright, I'll see you tomorrow.
03:27After initially denying the incident, Gilly admitted to the misconduct and resigned.
03:32He was later banned from being an officer throughout Tennessee.
03:35Moss was suspended as a teacher before she resigned as well.
03:39Very embarrassed.
03:40Number 5. Conor Estelle
03:42The YouTube channel Jubilee regularly goes viral with its content.
03:47After all, they often have one person with a belief face debate and questioning from dozens of people with opposing views, leading to drama.
03:54In 2025, progressive Mehdi Hassan faced 20 far-right people.
03:59Under the topic, Donald Trump is defying the constitution, Estelle won the round of magical chairs to verbally combat Hassan.
04:06Nice to meet you.
04:07Pleasure to meet you, sir.
04:08Mehdi, lovely to meet you.
04:09Well, it didn't look great for Estelle.
04:10He admitted to being a fascist, while cackling like a supervillain and supporting hate groups.
04:16Because you're a little bit more than a far-right Republican.
04:19Hey, what can I say?
04:20I think you can say I'm a fascist.
04:22Yeah, I am.
04:25Estelle also underplayed the atrocities committed by Germany during World War II.
04:29After the video spread online, Estelle appeared on the podcast, Rift TV.
04:34As well as backtracking on his vile opinions, he also admitted he lost his job.
04:38What happened?
04:38Well, unfortunately, I lost my job as a result.
05:15As the footage went viral, BCT Partners, a management consultancy firm that specializes in advertising companies on diversity, recognized Caldwell as their employee, which they swiftly changed.
05:26Caldwell, who was also banned for life from Eagles' home games, released a public apology.
05:30It squeezed in a claim that they were provoked.
05:32Number three, Sam Johnson.
05:37For some individuals, nothing is more terrifying than people challenging gender norms when it comes to attire.
05:43In 2021, teenager Dalton Stevens decided to wear a red prom dress as he attended the event with his boyfriend.
05:50However, while he was outside a hotel in Franklin, Tennessee with his boyfriend, he was approached by Johnson.
05:55You look like an idiot.
05:57The boyfriend then recorded the confrontation, which spread online.
06:00The clip showed Stevens arguing with Johnson, with the latter issuing insults at the teenager and his outfit.
06:06It's kids. It's a bunch of kids. Come on, dude.
06:08Immediately, viewers laid into Johnson for appearing to be homophobic, which he denied was the case.
06:13Regardless, his behavior resulted in his firing as CEO of Visual.
06:18Everybody should just wear what they want and that you shouldn't be ashamed to wear anything because of societal standards.
06:25Number two, Amy Cooper.
06:27In 2020, Christian Cooper was enjoying some birdwatching in New York City's Central Park when he spotted another Cooper, Amy, walking her dog.
06:35However, the pup was unleashed, which was against the rules in the area.
06:39Please don't come close to me.
06:41Sir, I'm asking you to stop recording you.
06:42Despite Christian asking her to leash the dog, Amy refused.
06:45This led to him making the smart decision to record her as she called the cops, claiming to them that there was an African-American man threatening my life.
06:53I'm going to tell them there's an African-American man threatening my life.
06:56Please tell them whatever you like.
06:57When the video went online, people were outraged over the racism as well as the treatment of her own dog.
07:03Her employers, investment company Franklin Templeton, shared the concerns of viewers by firing her.
07:09Amy tried suing the firm for wrongful dismissal.
07:11However, it was dismissed.
07:13Cooper has lost her suit against Franklin Templeton, which claimed she was illegally fired and portrayed as a racist.
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07:33Number 1. Andy Byron
07:37Everyone will know exactly where they were when this drama first unfolded on their phone screens.
07:43In 2025, while Coldplay performed in Boston, Massachusetts, the band showcased the Kiss Cam, selecting couples in the audience to put up on screen.
07:51However, when it got to Andy Byron and Kristen Cabot, he flopped onto the floor as she hid her face while a friend tried hiding her awkward laughter.
07:59Well, Chris Martin joking about them having an affair was right on the money.
08:03Byron was the CEO of data company Astronomer, and Cabot served as its chief people officer.
08:09Both were married to other people.
08:11Yikes.
08:11Shortly after the duo were put on leave, Byron resigned, with Cabot following a week later.
08:16Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the board of directors has accepted.
08:20Are there any other incidents of non-famous people who saw their careers go up in smoke after doing something scandalous on video that we missed?
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