A woman customizes a Build-A-Bear stuffed animal with a sound that plays when pressed. However, the cashier berates them after listening to it, sparking debate.
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In a video with over 26.2 million views, TikToker Sarah (@whatcentraldidnotcee08) shows the cashier holding the teddy bear to their ear.
“Oh, he should not have let you put that sound in there,” they say, looking over at another Build-A-Bear worker. “Did you not listen to that sound? It’s very inappropriate.”
The TikToker shows another clip of the workers arguing about the mysterious sound placed in the bear.
“Understand this is a family store. There’s children around. Think twice,” they yell across the store.
When another worker asks what the sound was, the cashier says, “Don’t worry about it.”
The caption reads, “We feel bad now.”
Does Build-A-Bear restrict certain sounds?
According to Build-A-Bear’s website, copyrighted sounds or music and anything deemed not “family friendly” can’t be recorded and placed in one of the stuffed animals. If a customer places the order online, they’ll be prompted to re-record the sound.
Build-A-Bear workers on the r/buildabear subreddit share their opinions on adults trying to record explicit messages to place in the toys.
“Honestly I don’t care if people put profanity in them. Adults get bears too for themselves or another adult. Yea it’s company policy to not allow it,” one writes.
Another worker says, “This might be shocking, but I don’t really enjoy hearing people curse, use slurs, or say extremely suggestive things at work. I’ve had to confiscate some horrible sound chips from guests.”
Viewers share mixed opinions
In the comments of the viral TikTok, viewers take sides on who is in the wrong. Some commenters suggest that the cashier shouldn’t have called out their co-worker in front of customers.
“As a former BAB employee, we’re not supposed to call out our other employees in front of customers & the way they did it also called out the customers themselves… highly inappropriate,” a viewer notes.
“Correcting a coworker for everyone in the store to hear is also inappropriate,” a second writes.
However, others praise the worker for protecting the children in the store who could have heard the inappropriate recording.
A commenter says, “Nah i’m on the workers side. why are we being inappropriate at build a bear.”
“I’m gonna get hate for this but I’m on her side. Build a bear is a kids store and I’m sorry but they’re are prvts out there,” another points out.
“She’s protecting KIDS. She’ll NEVER HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT,” a third exclaims.
@whatcentraldidnotcee08 We feel bad now @logan__bellerose @William #buildabear #funny #trolling #fyp #theclan ♬ original sound – .?♂️*peepᖭི༏ᖫྀ
The Mary Sue reached out to Sarah via TikTok direct message and comment and to Build-A-Bear via email.
