TikToker defends its refusal to let a child take its place on an F1 test drive

A TikTok of a man appearing to deny a child his last spot on a ride has received 9.3 million views.
TikTok: @myrightmiddletoe

  • A video of a man saying he refused to give up his seat on a ride to a child has gone viral on TikTok.
  • The upload received over 9.3 million views and appeared to show the child crying in response.
  • Over 6,400 comments responded to the video, with many praising the TikToker’s decision.

TikTok commenters are flocking to support a man who has gone viral on the app, after saying he refuses to let a child take his place in a Formula 1 race.

In a six-second video posted by TikTok user @myrightmiddletoe on February 26, a man could be seen standing next to what appeared to be a model race car, alongside the on-screen caption, ” When they say you’re the last one able to ride today and you refuse to let the little boy behind you ask to move.”

The video showed the man looking at the camera, before it pans to reveal a queue that had formed behind him which included two young children.

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The upload, which went hugely viral with over 9.3 million views and 1.9 million likes, then showed a sign saying the ride was an “F1 test drive” and specified that the exhibit was closing at 4:55 p.m., and visitors should “please consider this when joining the queue.”

The clip was then cut to a shot of one of the children who turned away from the ride, facing an adult and appearing to cry, before switching to the TikToker who smiled as he sat in the vehicle, hands on the wheel.

In the background of the video, a popular TikTok sound could be heard, which featured a person laughing before saying, “Girl, fuck them kids and fuck you too.” The TikTok caption read, “As soon as this happened, this sound came to mind to use.”

The video received over 6,400 comments, which showed overwhelming support for the TikToker’s decision to keep its place. “As it should be,” read a comment that received more than 100,000 likes. “I would do the same to not miss the F1 test drive lol,” read another who has been liked 98,600 times.

Other comments added that it would be good for the kid as he needed to learn that he can’t have everything his way. “It’s a precious ‘life ain’t fair’ moment,” one viewer wrote and received 47,100 likes. “I have to teach them that you don’t always get what you want in life!” read another comment, which has been liked over 9,400 times.

Other comments noted that even the adult standing with the child seemed to smile at the script as he looked at the TikToker in the vehicle.

It is not known where the ride took place, although it appears to be located in a large exhibition space which also displayed other cars. A sign visible in the video said the Formula 1 test drive lasted three minutes, with a minute and a half of driving time. The cost was listed as £1, or around $1.20, suggesting it was in the UK.

TikToks about whether adults should make sacrifices for the children they meet often spark debate, especially when it comes to swapping seats on planes so families can sit together. Many commentators frequently support the idea that people should not be expected to be inconvenienced because of the needs of other people’s children.

The TikTok in question is the only one currently uploaded by the account, which has 1,540 followers.

For more stories like this, check out Insider’s digital literacy team coverage here.

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