“I’m not making any excuses for myself or justifying anything that I done. Because what I done was wrong.”

Irish TikTok creator Alex Nolan has admitted to multiple fraud charges after being caught using counterfeit €50 notes at a SuperValu supermarket. The influencer has nearly 53,000 followers on TikTok and is known for his comedy and lifestyle videos.

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According to court reports, Nolan attempted to use the fake bills three separate times. Each time, he bought a low-cost drink, worth around €2.30, and received over €45 in real change back. However, after the third attempt, supermarket staff noticed the pattern and reviewed CCTV footage, quickly discovering his scam.

He appeared before the court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to several offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. The case was adjourned until January of next year.

“Every action has a reaction”: Alex Nolan posts apology video

After news of his guilty plea spread, Nolan shared a heartfelt video on his TikTok account on Oct. 8, 2025. In the clip, he directly addressed his followers and explained why he decided to speak out.

“I didn’t know whether to make a video or address anything in the last 24 hours, ’cause I didn’t really know how to handle it or take it,” he began. “But yes, a year and a half ago, I made a huge mistake. Yes, I hold my hands up to the mistake, for every action has a reaction.”

He said he wanted to talk about the situation because he had “a lot of young followers” and felt responsible for setting an example.

“I’m not making any excuses for myself or justifying anything that I done. Because what I done was wrong,” Nolan continued. “I was in a confusing phase of life, not really knowing what to do or how to handle myself […] And I obviously made a huge mistake that I am facing the consequences with now.”

Nolan also emphasized that he had changed since the incident. “But what I do say to the people who do look up to me, it’s what you do after you make the mistakes, how you hold yourself. I opted a bad way out and I done a complete 180 since then,” he said.

“I feel like doing what I’ve done isn’t right. And I don’t agree with any of it.”

@alex.nolan2

Hope my silly mistakes in the passed can help young lads realise that in hard times don’t op-ed for “easy money” or stupid mistakes, I take full responsibility for my actions and always will It’s about what you do to better yourself after making theses silly mistakes and my content and everyone that knows me knows I put 110% effort everyday to better myself and to spread positivity, thank you to everyone sending me kind messages I do appreciate it

♬ original sound – Alex Nolan

The comments section was filled with people joking around about him being in a money-making business, but there were also those who supported him.

“He’s a young lad made a mistake no one got hurt he didn’t harm anyone he’s not a terrible human keep your head up man you be grand,” one person wrote.

Another TikToker said, “Well said. Done a complete switch around from that time in your life brother.”

“You didn’t just do a 180 you done a 360 & turned it all around & you’ve held it all together,” a third person told him. “I don’t know you personally but so proud of your growth ”

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“Do you know what a frog is?” Kimi Pu, 9, asks her dad with a grin, pointing at a fork.
“Frog?” he repeats, sheepish but smiling.

“Frog’ is an animal—this is a fork.”

“Fork! Sorry!” he says.

“Great job,” Kimi replies, her voice soft.

“No, it’s fine … it takes process.”

That tiny phrase—“It takes process”—has become a kind of rallying cry on TikTok. In clips shared on the joint account @kimiandherdad, the Arizona duo invite 579K viewers into their living room “classroom,” where Kimi helps her Guatemalan father, Nicolás Pu, practise English one word at a time.

@kimiandherdad “Dad, Repeat After Me!” #tiktok #foryoupage #foryou ♬ sonido original – Kimi and her dad

The feed plays like a warm-hearted sitcom: Kimi laying out kitchen utensils for quizzes, correcting pronunciation with patience, and handing out hugs instead of gold stars. Their “field trips” double as real-world lessons—naming fruit in the Walmart produce aisle or acting out a police-officer role-play gone hilariously wrong.

In one viral clip, after Kimi confirms her dad has correctly named a “cup,” he beams, “Thank you, teacher!” It’s a simple exchange that captures the tenderness of their lessons—proof that learning can be both humbling and joyful. Viewers say that’s exactly what makes their bond so moving: the gentle way patience becomes love in action.

Why it hits so hard

On the surface, it’s a cute language lesson. But for millions of parents, it’s something deeper: a glimpse of connection through competence and play. Kimi is collaborating with her father without scolding or rescuing him. Her warmth models the very skills we try to teach our kids: patience, humour, and grace for mistakes.

As Kimi told TODAY, “I started teaching my dad English when I was pretty little, because I noticed that he needed a lot of help at restaurants and stores and talking to his customers … they didn’t understand what he said.”

That empathy, coupled with her dad’s openness to being the learner, flips the traditional power dynamic in a beautiful way. The result? A shared rhythm of respect: “Thank you, teacher.” “It takes process.”

Related: This Disney mom turned theme parks into her kids’ classroom—and parents are fascinated

What viewers are loving

Viewers have flooded the comment sections with reflections on the heartwarming dynamic. Many share how watching Kimi and her dad has reminded them of the power of patience, humor, and gentle teaching in their own families. 

• “You have the best dad ever, he’ll get there one day.” — @katycedeno1

• “Love these videos, immigrants have ALWAYS MADE AMERICA GREAT!!!!.” — @skinnymoron

• “He is trying to learn a whole new language and is doing amazing. You are being a great teacher and I am proud of you both.” — @miss.tai__

• “She is so patient and caring. He is so appreciative. This is so beautiful. Blessings to both.”  — @stormy_crashing_waves

What child language brokering really means

A study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that adolescents who frequently engaged in language brokering reported higher levels of depression and parent-child conflict, particularly when they perceived their parents as psychologically controlling or when they held strong family obligation values.

Additionally, research highlighted in Psychology Today emphasizes the importance of providing support to young language brokers to help them navigate their roles without bearing adult burdens alone. 

Therefore, while child language brokering can be a valuable practice, it’s crucial to ensure that children are not placed in situations that exceed their emotional capacity, particularly in high-stakes contexts.

To keep it healthy, experts suggest:

• Use official translators at clinics, schools, or government offices whenever possible.
• Rehearse scripts together before public errands so your child feels prepared, not pressured.
• Debrief feelings afterward—celebrate successes, talk through any confusion, and remind kids that grown-ups ultimately handle adult matters.

Related: Why a little boy’s garbage truck birthday shows the power of raising kids to value every job

3 easy ideas for connection-first language learning

• Object hunt: Take turns naming household items in each other’s language—winner gets to pick dessert.
• Two-way vocab: Parent says the English word, child says the other language, then swap roles.
• “Thank you, teacher” ritual: End every mini-lesson with that same phrase—because respect for learning flows both ways.

Kimi’s videos remind parents that language learning is about generosity. Every correction is wrapped in kindness, every mistake treated as an invitation to keep going. And that three-word refrain? It’s worth borrowing tonight, no matter who’s doing the teaching: “Thank you, teacher.”

Source:

1. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 2012.“The familial context of adolescent language brokering within immigrant Chinese families in Canada.”
2. Psychology Today. “Empowering Young Interpreters as Language Brokers.”

A family’s holiday in Perth, Australia, took an unsettling turn when they discovered a full-sized camera openly recording inside their Airbnb. Hidden camera horror stories are freaky enough, but this device wasn’t even disguised; it was set up in plain sight, blinking as it captured the room.

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Airbnb responded quickly once the TikTok post began to spread.

Camera found openly recording in an Airbnb

On Monday, TikToker @hardmanfambam posted the video of his Airbnb experience to just 630 followers. While hidden cameras in these lodgings are a known issue, this one dispensed with any effort to hide.

“So we got to our Airbnb last night,” the vlogger said. “It’s a nice place. There’s one thing I’m not sure about. Maybe you can help me out.”

He then panned to a large video camera sitting in the open on top of a low bookcase, a light blinking to indicate that it was recording.

“Is that allowed in Airbnbs?” the TikToker asked. “Is that standard practice?”

This small TikTok account doesn’t normally crack 10,000 views, but it did this time, including with its follow-up videos. In the first update, the vlogger explained that the family, which includes three young kids, decided to move to a hotel—for obvious reasons.

@hardmanfambam When you book a ‘private’ Airbnb in Perth… and find out maybe it’s not that private… #CreepyFind #Airbnb #PrivacyPlease #TheHardmans #StrengthInAdversity ♬ original sound – HardmanFam

Customer service had responded to their complaint and promised to reimburse them, but got cagey when they realized how much it would cost them.

“They soon realized that, being school holidays, there wasn’t much accommodation going, and the accommodation that was going that was very similar was about $6,000 more,” the TikToker explained.

@hardmanfambam Part two: when you book a ‘private’ Airbnb in Perth… and find out maybe it’s not that private… #CreepyFind #Airbnb #PrivacyPlease #TheHardmans #StrengthInAdversity ♬ original sound – HardmanFam

The second follow-up revealed that their followers tagging Airbnb in the comments did the trick. The company fully reimbursed the family for the hotel, related expenses, and gave them a coupon to move to a similar Airbnb in Perth.

Viewers urge police report as privacy concerns mount

While relieved that Airbnb treated this family right, the incident still repulsed many viewers, as the hidden camera stories always do.

“These stories make me NOT want to use air BnB,” wrote @tojo92946863.

“Now you need to share the property for the people so nobody else gets ripped off,” said @karribrennan.

Multiple commenters also urged the TikToker to report the incident to the police. Depending on local laws, recording inside a paid lodging location without consent could be illegal.

In an email to the Daily Dot, an Airbnb spokesperson wrote: “Airbnb does not allow hosts to have security cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces in homes, even if these devices are turned off.”

“We have provided the guest with a full refund and assisted them in rebooking alternate accommodation. In the rare event a host or guest feels unsafe or experiences a safety-related issue during an active reservation, we have a safety team that can be reached via our 24 Hour Safety Line, which is available to all users.”

Commenter @yeeha311 noted that “its typical that when people are watching only then do they start assisting.”

The Daily Dot has reached out to @hardmanfambam via TikTok.

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A woman brings two trick-or-treating buckets to 7-Eleven, thinking the convenience chain participates in “bring your own cup day.” But the workers tell her she’s mistaken when she takes out her $4 at the checkout.

In a video with over 6.6 million views, TikTok Aiyanna (@aiyannace) yells, “Hello, everyone! Happy holiday!” as she enters the convenience store.

First, she places one Jack-o’-Lantern bucket underneath the piña colada slushie flavor. She fills it up until the machine is nearly empty. Then, she places the second bucket underneath the blue raspberry flavor and fills it to the brim.

However, she asks the cashier why he looks “confused” as she places the buckets on the register.

Was 7-Eleven participating in ‘bring your own cup’ day?

In a Sept. 4 press release, 7-Eleven announces that its next bring your own cup day is Sept. 13. Customers can bring any container of any size and fill it up with a Slurpee for $1.99. The convenience chain gives “fishbowls, flower vases, pitchers, and popcorn buckets” as examples of acceptable containers.

However, Aiyanna may have mixed up her dates, arriving at the store with her buckets on Sept. 11. The workers shake their heads as they tell Aiyanna that the promotion isn’t valid.

“You gonna make me put my slushie back?” she asks, handing the cashier $4 for the two mega slushies.

One worker insists that bring your own cup day has “never been done.” Some franchises may not participate in the promotion.

The clip cuts, and she shows herself giving the giant slushies to two men outside of 7-Eleven. She reenters the store to buy the other people slushies—albeit normal-sized ones—too.

She asks the worker, “Does this qualify for your program?” as she hands him the Big Gulp-sized slushies.

How did viewers react to her viral mistake?

In the comments, viewers joke about Aiyanna’s go-with-the-flow attitude despite mixing up the dates of the bring your own cup promotion.

“My girl aint let her vibe get killed. she say ‘you get a slushy! YOU get a slushy! EVERYBODY gets a slushy,”” a commenter writes.

“I actually never laughed so hard in my entire life,” another says.

“Everytime I see your videos it’s just a perfect representation of exercising free will and I respect that,” a third adds.

Others point out that the 7-Eleven workers watched her fill the buckets with slushie and didn’t say anything before she reached checkout.

“It’s the fact they gonna tell you it’s not ‘bring your own cup day’ but not act like they did watch you fil up two buckets the whole time,” one says.

“The employees watching you fill up a Halloween bucket with slushie,” another writes.

“I mean they literally could’ve stopped you at ANY point prior to checkout,” a third remarks.

@aiyannace Happy Slushy Day ? #bringyourowncupday #slushy #7eleven #cup ♬ original sound – Aiyanna?

The Mary Sue reached out to 7-Eleven and Aiyanna via email for further comment.

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“Is it working?”

One TikToker decides to go for a shocking rebrand after realizing that the majority of her audience is men. Her strategy? A full face of green paint.

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Why did the TikToker paint her face green?

In a video with over 37,000 views, TikToker Hailey (@nothaileycase) sits in a gaming chair with a full face of green paint. She uses different shades of green to mimic contour and foundation, and tops off the look with bold winged eyeliner.

“A couple of months ago, I posted a video that changed my demographics forever,” she says. In the original video, Hailey drives a tractor while showing her daily routine of harvesting wheat. It garnered over 800,000 views.

She says that the video quickly turned her audience over 70% male, despite having a primarily female audience before.

“My inbox and my comments are littered with disgusting messages,” she laments, showing screenshots of men making sexual advances at her.

Hailey says she began brainstorming ways to drive away her new male audience and restore her primarily female viewers. She decides to paint her face green.

“Ladies, is it working?” she says, while jokingly smirking at the camera. The caption reads, “NO BOYS ALLOWED (unless ur chill like that).”

Did her decision attract more female viewers?

Hailey’s comments quickly flooded with female viewers who praised her for her creativity to get back the audience she wants.

“WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE! (Horton Hears a Who reference, please understand),” one writes.

“This definitely worked, I’m a lady and I’ve never seen you on my fyp before and I stayed because I vibe with your face paint,” another says.

@nothhaileycase NO BOYS ALLOWED (unless ur chill like that) #noboysallowed #ladies ♬ original sound –

“This is a strategy I haven’t seen before, but it worked. Hello from one of the ladies who saw you on her FYP,” a third adds.

Others share their experiences with TikTok, pushing their videos to a primarily male audience.

“In following you because the same thing happened to me, and it got so bad I had to disable my comments on a video,” a commenter says.

“One time a video started trending with middle-aged white men, and a bunch started following me. I fully just deleted the video and blocked them all. I was ABSOLUTELY NOT,” another writes.

The Daily Dot reached out to Hailey for further comment.

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One of the worst fears of any car owner is that you’ll come back to where you parked your vehicle, only to find that someone has smashed into it.

This sort of damage is fairly common. One 2022 survey stated that almost 60 percent of Americans claim that their car has been damaged while parked.

Whether the result is a minor scrape or a full-on collision, actually resolving an issue like this can prove difficult. Not every parking lot has a security camera, and while some are lucky enough to figure out the perpetrator of their accident, others are left wondering who smashed their vehicle—and questioning whether they’ll be tasked with footing the bill.

Now, TikToker has shared their own experience coming back to a broken car. Here’s what you should do in this situation.

What Did a Dollar General Truck do to Her Car?

In a video with over 91,000 views, TikTok user Jerilynn Gibson (@jerilynngibson) says she left her hotel job to discover that a Dollar General truck smashed her vehicle while it was in the parking lot.

“I get off of work. We had a Dollar General driver come in in a semi, OK?” she says. “I get off of work, my car’s [expletive]. [Expletive]!” she exclaims.

“Not only that, but it pushed it up against this [expletive] Jeep,” she continues. “I don’t have the money to replace that. I’m [expletive] broke. I don’t have the money for another car, a rental car, nothing.”

In a follow-up post, she shows a video of her car being hit by the truck. In another series of posts, she offers viewers a series of updates.

First, she says that she was the staff member who checked in the person who hit her car into the hotel. According to her, when she confronted the man, he claimed that he “didn’t know that he hit my car.”

“There’s no [expletive] way that he did not know that he hit my car,” she says. “He just thought it was gonna be another guest car and he wasn’t going to get caught, is my thoughts on the situation.”

She adds that her whole bumper is now gone, and that she is attempting to solve the issue through both insurance and by contacting Dollar General.

What Should You Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car?

If you return to your parked vehicle to find that someone has crashed into it, don’t panic.

According to Progressive, there are a few steps that one should follow if they come back to their vehicle and find that someone has hit it. First, one should not move the car or leave the scene. Second, they should try to locate the person who did it and exchange information. Next, the person should take as many photos from as many angles as they can in order to file a police report and a claim with their insurance.

If you can prove someone else caused the damage, Progressive states that its insurance should cover the damage. If you don’t know who did it, or you can’t prove who did it—but you have collision coverage—your insurance should cover the damage. However, if you don’t have insurance and cannot find the person responsible, chances are high that you’ll have to pay out of pocket.

@jerilynngibson How’s your night? #fml #car #done ♬ original sound – Jerilynn Gibson

In the comments section, users shared their thoughts on Gibson’s situation.

“If he’s so unaware of his surroundings to NOT know he hit your car….. he dang well better lose his CDL,” wrote a user. “I used to always feel so safe driving near semis. Now they terrify me. They are not the same people that used to drive. They are now careless and reckless people driving them.”

“Oh no he knew exactly what he’d done not even your car but the one next to you he shoved you into . Absolutely ridiculous he isn’t charged with hit an run even in a private lot,” added another. “Call DG corporate.”

“If you have any car seats in your van . Make sure you claim those too. They need to be replaced. Truck driver’s insurance will cover them,” suggested a third.

The Mary Sue reached out to Gibson via Instagram and TikTok direct message, and Dollar General via email

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

A woman says she’ll never shop at women’s lingerie store Victoria’s Secret “ever again” after two workers shamed her for her bra size.

In a video with over 14.1 million views, TikTok Natalie Manjarrez (@nataliemanjarrez_) walks out of the store angrily after the interaction “[Expletive] up [her] entire day.”

What did the Victoria’s Secret workers say to her?

Manjarrez says she entered the store looking for a “specific set.” While she quickly located the panties, she couldn’t find the matching bra in the right size in the drawers.

“The size that I was specifically looking for was only on the mannequin,” she explains. “I didn’t just want to rip it off the mannequin, so I asked for help and let them know, ‘It’s not here, can I please get the one on the mannequin?’”

The first worker asks her if she checked all of the drawers and starts going through them in front of Manjarrez. 

After digging through the drawers, the worker tells her that she has to ask the manager if she can remove the display bra.

“I’ve never had that happen to me. Someone has always just taken it off the mannequin and never had a problem with it,” she says.

When the manager comes over to the display, she once again asks Manjarrez and the first worker if they went through all the drawers. Instead of taking the bra off the mannequin, the manager decides to look in the back for the right size.

“She makes a small turn like she’s going to the back, comes back to me loud as hell and says, ‘That’s not your size,’” she recounts. Manjarrez notes that she never told the workers if the bra was for her or not—she just wanted that specific size.

“The sales associate chimes in and says, ‘We’re both [size] 34 and we have more than you,’” she says. “The manager picks up that I’m pissed off and says, ‘It’s our job to know sizes.’”

Manjarrez says she was so upset by the reaction that she put her bag of merchandise on the display and left without purchasing anything.

How did viewers react to the rude workers?

In the comments, some customers say they’ve experienced uncomfortable interactions while shopping at the lingerie chain.

“Girl, I HATE Victoria’s Secret because of the body shaming every damn time I go. The worst part is that I go to a bunch of different locations and STILL get the same uncomfortable feeling every time I shop,” a commenter shares.

“They are famous for weight shaming. My daughter is plus size and a) they never have large sizes in store and b) when you ask for a bigger size, they indiscreetly yell we don’t carry sizes that large in store. Awful,” another says.

Victoria’s Secret workers urge Manjarrez to report the incident to corporate.

“Definitely report them. I work at a Victoria’s Secret, and that’s not how we treat our customers,” one writes.

“As an ex-Victoria’s Secret employee. Report them! They can not do this! They can definitely remove the bra from the mannequins and replace it! And the disrespect!” another says.

“I’m a manager at VS. I always. ALWAYS pull it off the mannequin. We can replace the mannequin sets with so many others. So odd,” a third adds. 

In a follow-up video, Manjarrez says she emailed corporate and left reviews. A day later, she posts another update that Victoria’s Secret corporate called her “to apologize profusely.”

“They are going to be investigating this situation with these specific employees,” she says. 

@nataliemanjarrez_

Victoria’s Secret you need to train your employees better.

♬ original sound – Natalie

The Mary Sue reached out to Manjarrez and Victoria’s Secret for further comment.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

A new version of the TikTok mobile app for people in the US is reportedly being developed by the vertical video social media network’s owner ByteDance. It will replace the current version of TikTok being used in the US ahead of a September deadline for the Chinese company to divest ownership, according to a report last month by The Information.

The new app, codenamed “M2,” could launch on Sept. 5. If you’re in the US, you would then be required to switch from the existing app to the new one, the report said, citing anonymous sources. US President Donald Trump recently extended a deadline for the owner to sell its US-based TikTok assets by Sept. 17. 

In July, Trump said he found a buyer for the company, which he called a group of “very, very wealthy people.”

The administration has continued to extend deadlines for TikTok to remain operational since January when it was shut down for less than 24 hours. The company reportedly has 170 million users in the US.

A representative for TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.

According to The Information, the reason for the new app version is also due to an Apple App Store restriction that does not allow multiple versions of an app for different regions to appear in the same listing. 

What a US TikTok app would mean for you

If the report is accurate, it would mean that at the very least, anybody who uses the TikTok mobile app would eventually be required to migrate to a new US-centric version.

But there’s likely to be a lengthy grace period, according to The Information’s sources: the old app may not disappear completely until March 2026, giving you six months to make the transition.

Still, it could be disruptive for those whose business or brand relies on the platform. “Anytime there is a migration or a major feature revamp on any network, it certainly creates work and worry,” said Jennie Smythe, an author and founder and CEO of Girlilla Marketing, which has worked with clients including Willie Nelson, Terry Crews and Iliza Shlesinger.

“There are concerns that audiences will also make the move and if the migration will be worth the effort,” Smythe told CNET in an email. “The bigger concern besides the migration are the features and data that will be available to us in the creator economy as well as the audience restrictions (i.e. is our content/audience also restricted to US only?).”

It’s unclear if the new app would include any other major changes or improvements over the existing app or if it would restrict or filter viewing content from other regions in ways that differ from the current version.