A Sam’s Club shopper in Los Angeles sparked an uproar the day before Thanksgiving as she snagged all the rotisserie chickens from the store’s hot shelf — but critics were forced to eat crow after a follow-up video revealed the reason behind her conspicuous spree.
The spat unfolded Wednesday inside the members-only warehouse store, where another customer accused the unknown woman of selfishness as she loaded her cart with the cooked birds.
Video of the exchange showed the upset shopper saying: “A Christian like you don’t do stuff like that…this chick took all the chicken.”
The footage quickly spread on social media, prompting initial condemnation from users who viewed the purchase as greedy amid potential holiday shortages.
Commenters labeled it hoarding, with some tying it to broader frustrations over food costs during the season.
However, a second video later surfaced showing the same woman at a street-side stall, handing out the chicken dinners to individuals experiencing homelessness.
One social media user wrote, “She stayed calm because she knew where the food was going, they can get mad all they want but she’s amazing for being selfless on Thanksgiving.”
The incident highlighted assumptions and quick judgments in viral moments, occurring as major retailers including Walmart, which owns Sam’s Club, rolled out discounted Thanksgiving meal options to address rising food prices.
Walmart announced its holiday basket for 10 people at under $40, down from about $56 the previous year.
The package included fewer items, which down to 22 this year compared to 29 in 2024, with a greater emphasis on its Great Value store brand over national labels.
Competitors followed suit. Aldi offered a $40 spread for 10, reduced from $47 last year, by switching from Butterball turkeys to cheaper Jennie-O options, saving about 30 cents per pound.
Target revamped its seven-item kit for four people, leaning on private labels instead of brands like Del Monte and Campbell’s.
The retailer priced it under $20, matching last year’s cost and down from $25 in 2023. The changes reflected consumer pressures, with a NielsenIQ survey showing 58% of Americans expressing deep concern over food prices and 31% favoring cheaper store brands.
Federal data indicated food costs rose 2.7% in September from a year earlier, while consumer confidence hit a three-and-a-half-year low.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
