In a “do it for the plot” type of moment, one Home Depot customer decided to test a shopping theory after seeing a viral Facebook post. “I gotta stop doing these challenges,” TikToker Joneka Watkins (@nekdoggbaby) captions her video, which earned a whopping 7.1 million views as of this writing.
In the clip, Watkins subjects a poor, unassuming Home Depot worker to mental distress, all in an attempt to buy some rope. However, context is everything.
Why couldn’t this woman buy some rope?
Watkins shares a screenshot of a Facebook post by Shaniece Williams that reads: “Fun fact. Did y’all know if you go in Home Depot crying they won’t let you buy rope.”
Watkins decided to test that theory for herself and waltzed into the home improvement store, making a beeline toward the rope section. The video shows Watkins fake crying while a worker measures the length of rope she wants.
“Can you see how tall I am first?” Watkins asks.
The worker, who is an older gentleman, isn’t sure he heard right. So Watkins asks again for her height to be measured. The TikToker continues fake sniffling, prompting the worker to ask her if “someone put water on you or are you crying?”
“Crying,” Watkins replies.
The worker offers a “sorry” and asks her if she is all right. But Watkins is determined to get the rope, trying to see if she will be denied service.
The worker continues to measure Watkins. “I’m just trying to see if it’s going to be long enough,” she says, gauging his reaction. But the worker doesn’t bite. He cuts the rope and sends her on her way.
Then a Home Depot worker intervenes
At the checkout counter, however, is another story. As Watkins tries to pay—while still fake sobbing—the worker seems a bit more hesitant to close the sale.
“How much is this?” Watkins asks in between tears.
“I’m looking,” the cashier replies. He keeps scrolling through the screen. “It’s not coming up,” he finally says.
Watkins pretends to look completely distraught, demanding that he sell the rope to her.
“I can’t sell it to you, it ain’t in here,” the worker tells her. “Let me call someone.”
Watkins begs for the rope and tries to bribe him with $50. Still, the worker refuses.
“I can’t do it, I’ll lose my job,” the worker says. The video ends with him picking up the phone to presumably call a manager. The Mary Sue reached out to Watkins via Instagram direct message.
Viewers are amused by the workers’ reactions
Several top-liked comments in the comments section pointed out the lack of concern the first worker displayed.
“He saw you cryin, measured you, & STILL cut the rope,” one wrote. “He was not about to stand in your way.”
One noted, “The way you holding the rope in the shape of a noose.”
Another added, “Clearly a team meeting needs to be had. unc was ready to sell that rope by any means.”
Others felt for the cashier, who looked visibly concerned for Watkins.
“I just know the cashier went home tellin people he saved somebody life,” a top comment read.
Some could only imagine the aftermath of such an encounter.
“I just know the staff had a team meeting after this lmao,” one user wrote.
However, some applauded Home Depot for this alleged policy.
“This was HILARIOUS but on the flip side, Home Depot has gained a new loyal supporter!!! I have so much respect for them and this policy!” one said.
But does this “policy” really exist?
Can Home Depot deny you rope if you’re crying?
It seems Williams was onto something in her Facebook post. In a CNN article from 2020, Home Depot indeed changed its rope sales practice after nooses were found in a North Carolina store. Home Depot released a statement that it was “appalled and disturbed by the incident,” per CNN.
The incident occurred after the killing of George Floyd, and since nooses are largely regarded as threatening symbols against Black people, the company decided to enact the policy.
@nekdoggbaby I gotta stop doing these Challenges ? #explorepage ♬ original sound – Joneka Watkins
“Unfortunately, we’ve had some instances where spooled rope was used to create hate symbols and we’re not going to tolerate it,” a Home Depot spokesperson told CNN.
The company then decided to sell shorter, pre-cut lengths of rope. Whether that extends to people crying or appearing to be in mental distress is unclear, but The Mary Sue has reached out to Home Depot to verify.
We’ll let you know what they say.
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