Well, it looks like we’ve reached a new low in the endless quest for internet fame. An Arizona man was arrested after allegedly filming himself spraying bug killer on food at a Walmart in Mesa. Yes, you read that correctly. Charles Smith, 27, thought it would be a good idea to grab a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer off the shelf, spray it on produce, rotisserie chickens, and who knows what else, and then post the whole fiasco online. Because nothing says “hilarious prank” like poisoning groceries.
According to the Mesa Police Department, Smith’s stunt wasn’t just dumb—it was dangerous. He filmed himself spraying the pesticide, making sure to capture his face and the can for maximum TikTok clout. The video, which has since been deleted from his account, still managed to make the rounds on social media. And if that wasn’t enough, Smith’s most recent post involved tying bungee cords around store door handles and telling customers, “You guys are locked in there, forever.” Charming.
Okay this is insane. This guy sprayed toxic bug spray on produce at Walmart, and then was dumb enough to post it on the internet.
LOCK HIM UP! cr: @ImMeme0 pic.twitter.com/z5Er45SZi2
— David J Harris Jr (@DavidJHarrisJr) December 21, 2024
Authorities wasted no time tracking Smith down, with Mesa and Tempe police working together to identify him. Smith later turned himself in, reportedly admitting to both theft and spraying the pesticide on food. He now faces a felony charge for introducing poison, along with three misdemeanors for criminal damage, endangerment, and theft. Not exactly the kind of “likes” he was hoping for.
Let’s pause for a moment to acknowledge just how absurd this is. Social media has always had its share of bizarre trends, but the idea of risking public health for a few seconds of internet fame takes things to a whole new level. It’s one thing to film harmless pranks but deliberately contaminating food? That’s not a joke—it’s reckless, dangerous, and, frankly, stupid.
Raise your hand ✋️ if you want charges upgraded to attempted murder on Charles Smith, who tried to poison shoppers by spraying produce in a Walmart with bug spray pic.twitter.com/63v5RYFHG7
— @Chicago1Ray (@Chicago1Ray) December 22, 2024
Thankfully, Walmart acted quickly. A spokesperson confirmed that all affected products were immediately removed, and the area was sanitized to ensure customer safety. No word yet on how much the cleanup effort cost, but you can bet it wasn’t cheap. And let’s not forget the people who had to toss out their groceries or wonder if their dinner plans were sabotaged by a TikTok “influencer.”
The Mesa Police Department didn’t mince words in their statement, calling out the “potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks.” And they’re right. There’s a fine line between trying to entertain an audience and endangering people’s lives, and Smith didn’t just cross it—he bulldozed it.
This incident is yet another reminder of how far some people will go for online attention. Whether it’s gluing themselves to famous paintings or, apparently, spraying pesticides on food, the chase for viral fame keeps hitting new lows. Maybe it’s time we all take a step back and remember that actions have consequences, especially when they involve other people’s health and safety.
As for Smith, let’s hope his time in court is a wake-up call. Because while social media might thrive on stupidity, the legal system doesn’t have much of a sense of humor.
