Someone gave away free food in Toronto but it didn't go quite as expected
A video social experiment involving free food in downtown Toronto recently went awry after causing some unintended reactions, leading to lots of contrasting debates online.
TikTok and YouTube creator @cjay011 regularly posts experiments on his social media platforms, which have amassed millions of views over the past few years.
In a video posted on March 2, CJAY sets up a table in Dundas Square offering free food and drinks to people in need.
Multiple people are seen approaching the table full of groceries and picking up one or two items, as well as thanking the creator for so generously supplying the food.
However, something that wasn't expected began to happen. Pedestrians passing through the busy intersection stopped and started to place their own groceries around the table for people in need.
What started out as a relatively small collection of groceries began to multiply in size as Good Samaritans began to contribute their own supplies.
However, the social experiment took a turn when a man and woman approached the table and began to grab the majority of items, including two bags and cartons of milk.
"I have kids," the man says in the video. "I have seven kids."
According to the creator, the man "takes everything possible, they both laugh and crack jokes while so many people in real need was all around us."
The one-minute clip has amassed 1.5 million likes and nearly 20 million views so far, with many condemning the man for being "greedy."
"You know instantly that it's greed. Even when you are in need you will not take that much because you will think of others," one person commented under the TikTok.
"It's always like that...people who need it most will leave some for others while the rest takes everything," another person wrote.
"It started out so well. It's so hard when people disrespect the goal," one person said.
However, many people came to the defence of the man, claiming that he might've actually needed all those groceries if he has several children to take care of.
"Did they say they have seven kids? They probably actually needed it," someone commented.
"How do you know they didn't need it though?" one person asked. "They looked happy they found it."
Despite some unexpected reactions, it seems the social experiment still managed to make a positive impact by supplying many people in need with food for free.
