Red Baron Worker Targeted by Instagram Prank Is 'Blown Away' as GoFundMe Tops $400,000

A Michigan delivery worker who lost his patience with a pair of social media pranksters while stocking frozen pizzas has become the internet’s cause of the week. A GoFundMe set up by a stranger had raised roughly $413,000 by Thursday night, Oct. 29, according to the New York Post, and the worker says he is “absolutely blown away.”

The man, a Red Baron representative identified publicly only as Walt Z., has asked for privacy through the fundraiser’s organizer. His employer says he still has his job.

What happened in the Red Baron prank video

The clip shows Walt stocking freezer shelves in a grocery store when a man filming on a phone asks him for the time, then holds his phone near Walt’s as an Apple Pay chime plays, pretending to take money from him, the Post and IBTimes UK reported. IBTimes says the prankster claimed to have taken $10.

Walt first responds calmly, then explains why he isn’t laughing. “My life is hard enough as it is, okay? I don’t need this,” he says in the video. He tells the pair that his kids “went to bed without me,” that he was supposed to be off work an hour earlier, and that he has to “wake up at 5 in the morning and do 10 more stores.”

When the prankster insists it’s “just a joke,” Walt cuts him off: “You’re probably making money off of this! I can’t even pay my mortgage! And I got four kids at home! So not funny!” (The quotes are lightly edited for language.)

The footage carried the watermark of an Instagram account that, according to the Post and Dexerto, was deleted or deactivated after a wave of backlash. The store’s location has not been confirmed, IBTimes UK reported.

Who started the GoFundMe?

The fundraiser was launched Oct. 27 by Luke Oakenshield, who had never met Walt and says he won’t take any of the money, according to IBTimes UK. Oakenshield wrote that he created it because “there is real concern that this hardworking person could lose their job because of a situation they did not create,” the Post reported.

Oakenshield, who posts on Reddit as “WereTheBrews,” said he tracked Walt down and video-chatted with him and his partner to confirm it was really him, Dexerto reported.

“Walt Z out of Michigan sends a heartfelt thank you, and is absolutely blown away by how much people have cared over this,” Oakenshield wrote in an update. He said GoFundMe is handling the transfer of the money directly to Walt, who has been added as the beneficiary.

How fast the money came in

Reported totals have climbed quickly and vary depending on when each outlet checked:

• Oct. 28: more than $20,000, per IBTimes UK
• Oct. 29: past $100,000, then $250,000 and $300,000 from about 8,200 donations, per IBTimes UK and Dexerto
• Thursday night, Oct. 29: about $413,000, per the New York Post

IBTimes UK reported that the largest single donation was $30,000 and that the goal had been raised to $400,000. GoFundMe’s Giving Guarantee lets donors request refunds, and the platform says it investigates suspected misuse.

What Red Baron said

A spokesperson for Schwan’s Company, Red Baron’s parent, told the Post that the incident happened in August and involved one of its direct store delivery employees.

“Following the incident, we connected directly with our team member to check on his well-being, and we continue to offer our support,” the spokesperson said. “We are pleased to share that he is doing well and remains a valued member of our team.”

The brand also weighed in on X. “He’s still here. He’s got a fan club,” Red Baron posted, according to Dexerto. “Including us.” An image with the post read, “Employee of the month nominations are closed. You know why.”

Why the story struck a nerve

Viewers on X and Reddit overwhelmingly sided with Walt, Dexerto reported, with many criticizing creators who target workers for clicks. IBTimes UK noted the clip has revived a broader debate over prank videos filmed in stores, and that commentators including Benny Johnson and Collin Rugg shared the fundraiser.

The family has not spoken publicly beyond the organizer’s updates. Some users online have circulated fuller details about his identity, but Oakenshield has shared only his first name and initial, IBTimes UK reported.

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