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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Isabel Keane

Woman goes viral after conducting social experiment with US megachurches

  • A TikToker, Nikalie Monroe, conducted a social experiment by calling over 30 US megachurches, pretending to be a struggling mother in need of baby formula.
  • Monroe, an Army veteran without children, used a crying baby sound effect to test churches' willingness to help a desperate parent.
  • Out of 42 calls, 33 churches refused assistance, while only nine offered help, sparking widespread online criticism.
  • Houston's Lakewood Church, one of the nation's largest and wealthiest megachurches, declined immediate help, stating an application process could take weeks.
  • The church's response, given its substantial net assets and previous controversy during Hurricane Harvey, drew significant outrage from internet users.

IN FULL

TikToker pretending to be needy mom called megachurches for help with their responses going viral: ‘Joel Osteen would never’

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