Nykia Hamilton, the 25-year-old single mother of three who went viral for running a Burger King restaurant alone, has been fired. Hamilton gained online fame in July when a customer filmed her hustling from station to station to serve customers amid a staffing shortage at the Columbia, South Carolina fast-food joint. However, just over a month after the footage was released, Hamilton revealed she was terminated from her position for being late due to childcare responsibilities.
“Burger King fired me because I’ve been late because of my kids,” she said tearfully. “My kids come first. Y’all don’t pay for no babysitter, or nothing.”
Hamilton often worked more than 12 hours per shift to support her three children and shared the emotional toll of balancing long hours and parental responsibilities.
“I be missing out on my kids’ lives when I work so much,” she said, fighting back tears. “I have to provide for them, but I really don’t have time to spend with them, and it hurts me a lot.”
Even with assistance sporadically, the establishment remained understaffed, forcing Hamilton to frequently close the store alone.
Nykia Hamilton’s termination adds scrutiny
“One of my employees just quit on me, and they didn’t have anyone else to come in, so I had to work by myself, and close by myself,” she said. “Had to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru.”
Burger King has since confirmed Hamilton’s termination, citing “attendance issues.” A spokesperson for the company stated, “No team member should ever be left to run a restaurant alone, even for a short period of time. That’s not how we operate.” The spokesperson added that terminations are determined by franchisees, who confirmed Hamilton was dismissed due to repeated lateness.
Supporters have rallied behind Hamilton, urging donations to her GoFundMe, which has raised $81,137 to help the single mom. Hamilton, who did not respond to a request for comment, expressed gratitude for the job, noting the challenges of finding employment with a record. “By grace of God, she [her manager] gave me a job.
So that’s the only reason why I stayed for her,” Hamilton said. This story has garnered widespread attention and support, reflecting the broader challenges faced by single parents balancing work and childcare.