Fast Food Worker Was Appalled When Woman Refused To ‘Pay It Forward’ For Cop’s Meal

Jul 18, 2023

A woman named Samantha took to social media to share her experience after a McDonald’s drive-thru worker asked her if she wanted to "pay it forward" for the police officer in the car behind her, and she refused The incident, which occurred on July 7, 2023, quickly became a topic of debate online.

Samantha, who hails from a small conservative U.S. town, was taken aback by the staff’s insinuation to pay for the cop’s food. Sharing her predicament on TikTok, the woman explained in the video that she was at the fast food joint to buy her own food. Her order cost about $2.19 while she was told that the cop's purchase would run up to almost $18.00. 

The concept of "paying it forward" involves customers paying for the order of the person behind them as a random act of kindness. This trend is seen at various drive-thru locations, including Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A, aside from McDonald’s

In 2022, a McDonald's Wisconsin location broke their store's record for the longest "pay it forward" chain when 23 cars at the drive-thru agreed to pay for the next person's order. The restaurant issued a statement to commend this activity with pride.  

Two years before that record-breaking feat, McDonald's customers in a Florida outlet also witnessed a similar activity when 250 people paid it forward to spread the Christmas cheer. It was the cashier who encouraged the customers to pay for another person's purchase, which took place during her eight-hour shift.  

When Samantha told the worker at the outlet that she was not up to doing that, the person behind the counter apparently looked "disgusted" at her. She explained that she was not willing to spend a lot of money on someone else’s meal. 

Despite declining, the McDonald's staff insisted that many people in the area paid it forward for cops regularly, indicating that police officers often received free meals at this particular store. However, Samantha's refusal to participate in the trend raised questions about the practice itself. Some workers have voiced concerns, considering it a hassle that may lead to order mix-ups and extra expenses for those participating.

In a second video, Samantha questioned why she was even asked to pay for the officer's meal when McDonald's often "comped" their orders anyway. It appeared that the worker's insistence was unnecessary, as the restaurant itself covered some of the officers' meals. 

The incident sparked heated discussions online, with some supporting Samantha's decision to decline the offer and questioning the practice of making customers pay for others' orders. On the other hand, there were those who defended the worker's proposition, stating that it was a gesture of goodwill for the police officers' service.

"I was raised in a small town and (your) comments would not go over well. We pay for first responders’ food, police included. What’s the big deal?" one commenter wrote in the original video.

"I would have said I don't have the money for his food I barely got the money for mine but your more than welcome to pay for his," another commenter posted.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how fast-food chains and their employees will handle such encounters at the drive-thru in the future. The "paying it forward" trend, once seen as a heartwarming act of kindness, now faces criticism for the complications it may introduce and the pressure it puts on customers to participate.

Do you participate in this trend, or do you side with Samantha's reasons for not paying it forward? Do you know someone with a similar experience? Let know them know about this story!