A popular social media account has been accused of filming scripted videos and passing them off as real after a Target customer overheard two people going over their lines while recording multiple takes.
TikToker Steph (@stephs.studios) was shopping at Target when he came across a content creator who was preparing a video for Pablo and friends where the images later appeared amid a series of clips “blessing” strangers with money.
Steph suspected something was wrong and noticed that the man was filming the woman with a phone holder attached to his chest. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the conversation was pre-scripted, as the woman repeated lines several times and the man asked for retakes.
“I started listening more closely to see what they were filming. That’s when I realized it was like a script,” Steph said.
He added that the woman repeatedly said she had never received such a “blessing” before.
An influencer was caught filming scripted videos of himself “blessing” random Target shoppers with money after a customer caught him doing multiple takes.
A TikToker named Steph (@stephs.studios) was shopping at Target when she came across influencer Paul Vu, who was preparing a video for his content.
“I heard the girl say the same thing over and over again many times,” she said.
To expose the duo, Steph discreetly recorded their interaction by placing her phone in the cup holder of a shopping cart.
The footage showed part of the couple’s performance with the man counting down on his fingers, signaling the woman to begin her lines.
At one point, the woman’s facade cracks as she bursts into laughter, seemingly in response to Steph calling them “liars.”
Despite the interruption, the pair quickly resume their act as Steph walks away.
Steph’s viral video It has received over 841,200 views and 125,000 likes.
“It really bothered me because I love that kind of content. And I’m not saying that the content is always scripted, but these people were friends,” she said.
With the help of her followers, Steph received the video on Paul Vu and Friends’ TikTok account, a platform that is all about helping others in need and inspiring viewers to do charitable acts. It has 1.4 million followers and over 14 million likes.
Viewers in the comments expressed disappointment and reminded others to be careful when choosing what to believe on social media.
Suspecting something was amiss, Steph noticed the man was filming the woman with a phone holder attached to his chest. Upon closer inspection, she realized the conversation was pre-scripted, as the woman repeated lines several times and the man asked for retakes.
One person said: “Because they don’t actually give the money. I’m always suspicious of ‘good deeds’ done in movies.”
Another added: ‘Okay but this is investigative journalism level documentation lol like the ‘hidden’ camera footage and all lol this was awesome.’
A third wrote: “The fact that they did so many takes to make it look scripted.”
A fourth wrote: “Nothing is genuine anymore.”
Steph then posted an update saying she had identified the video posted on a creator’s account.
Viewers have since flocked to Paul and Friend’s account, adding comments on the posted video and sharing jokes about seeing unedited behind-the-scenes footage.
He captioned the clip: ‘The good deeds of a kind stranger result in blessings.’
“It’s so weird watching them rehearse,” one person said.
“You can’t trust anyone these days…” wrote another person.
“And cut! That’s it, people!” said another.
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