A Michigan father targeted by Instagram pranksters has paused a fundraiser created on his behalf after strangers contributed nearly $785,000. Walt Zerod, a father of four who delivers frozen pizzas for Red Baron, announced [1] the decision Thursday after an extraordinary wave of public support.
Zerod thanked the thousands of donors who helped his family after footage of his confrontation with two social media trolls spread online. He also encouraged anyone still looking to give money during the holiday season to support other families and organizations.
“Your kind words have meant the world to my family and I this past week,” Zerod wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “I still cannot believe how much you have all rallied behind us, and I can never thank you enough. I’ve been able to spend lots of extra time at home with my family this week.”
Zerod said he was pausing donations exactly one week after the outpouring began. The response had given him additional time at home with his wife and children while drawing widespread attention to what began as a cruel stunt inside a grocery store.
“I’ve decided to pause donations to my fundraiser today, Thursday, November 5, marking one week of your incredible generosity and support for my family and I,” he continued.
The father said the announcement would be his final update as he stepped away from the viral spotlight. Rather than continue collecting money, Zerod urged supporters to direct their generosity toward other people facing difficult circumstances during the holidays.
“If you have the means and would like to continue helping others, please consider supporting another fundraiser, a local charity, or a church helping families in need this holiday season,” Zerod added.
Well this final GoFundMe update from The Red Baron Worker has assured me that we could not have supported a better man. https://t.co/RvS3SCsdxy
— Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) November 5, 2026 [2]
Arizona man Luke Oakenshield launched the fundraiser on Oct. 27 after video of Zerod’s confrontation with two Instagram pranksters went viral. Oakenshield said he created the campaign because he feared Zerod could suffer consequences at work over an incident he had not started.
The footage showed Zerod stocking frozen pizzas at a grocery store when the pranksters approached and asked him for the time. They then played a fake Apple Pay transaction sound and falsely claimed Zerod had taken $10 from them.
Zerod initially stayed calm as the pair continued their routine. His frustration eventually surfaced as the pranksters kept provoking him while he was attempting to finish his work.
“My life is hard enough as it is, OK? I don’t need this crap,” Zerod said in the clip.
The Red Baron worker explained that he had four children waiting at home, was struggling to pay his mortgage, and had already worked beyond his scheduled shift. His comments revealed the pressure behind the moment that the pranksters had tried to turn into online entertainment.
“I gotta wake up at 5 in the morning and do 10 more stores!” Zerod shouted.
‘MY LIFE IS HARD AS IT IS, I DON’T NEED THIS CRAP!’ — Grocery store worker SNAPS at clout-chasing kids
Teens tried to apologize to the man with four kids and a mortgage, but it didn’t look sincere to him https://t.co/5fl7NWrZdA
— RT (@RT_com) October 28, 2026 [3]
Instead of generating laughs for the pranksters, the video triggered widespread backlash against them. Their Instagram account, ThreeOfAKind, was later deleted as viewers rallied around the working father they had targeted.
As of Thursday, the GoFundMe campaign had collected $784,273 through roughly 22,800 individual donations. The fundraiser originally carried a goal of $900,000, but Zerod chose to pause contributions before reaching that amount.
Oakenshield and Zerod have since spoken and developed a friendship, Zerod disclosed in his final update. The fundraiser organizer’s concern that Zerod might face trouble at work also proved unnecessary, according to the company.
Red Baron parent company Schwan’s, which is based in Minnesota, confirmed to The Post that Zerod was a direct store delivery employee. The company also said the grocery store incident occurred in August.
“We are pleased to share that he is doing well and remains a valued member of our team,” a company spokesperson told The Post last week.
He’s still here. He’s got a fan club.
Including us. https://t.co/7oppfnDUfx— Red Baron Pizza (@redbaronpizza) October 29, 2026 [4]
The ugly stunt left the pranksters facing public condemnation while Zerod received support from thousands of strangers. Now, after pausing the fundraiser, the Michigan father plans to leave the sudden attention behind and spend the holidays with his family.