When a viral fairy tale slams against reality
Today on \u201cPost Reports,\u201d a viral fundraiser for an unhoused man triggers backlash online. And, how platforms like GoFundMe are increasingly replacing America\u2019s social safety net.
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Earlier this year, 21-year-old Sanai Graden \u2013 a college student from California \u2013 was on her way to a grocery store in D.C. when an unhoused man named Alonzo called out to her asking for tea.
\u201cI\u2019m walking to Trader Joe\u2019s,\u201d she said to him. \u201cYou want to walk with me? We can stop at Starbucks.\u201d
It was the beginning of a daylong journey for the two of them, which Graden recorded and posted to TikTok, imploring her followers to donate to Alonzo. Within days her video had racked up millions of views and the GoFundMe she set up for him had raised more than $400,000.
And then, the fairy tale slammed into reality.
Today on \u201cPost Reports,\u201d reporter Kyle Swenson talks about Graden\u2019s saga \u2013 how even the best intentions can have unexpected complications online, and the perils of fundraising on platforms like TikTok and GoFundMe.
Today\u2019s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed and edited by Ted Muldoon.
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