Who Pranked the 8 Year Old Superfan Gabe Lyles?
by Mathelene
Updated Jul 12, 2023
![Who Pranked the 8 Year Old Superfan Gabe Lyles? Who Pranked the 8 Year Old Superfan Gabe Lyles?](https://img20.fresherslive.com/latestnews/2023/07/who-pranked-the-8-year-old-64ae7622e797b32968147-900.webp)
Who Pranked the 8 Year Old?
On July 1, Gabe Lyles and his father, TJ, fell victim to a cruel prank orchestrated by two individuals who falsely claimed to be associated with YouTuber MrBeast. The incident took place during a visit to their local Target store in Southington, Connecticut. The two pranksters approached the father-son duo and invited them to participate in a giveaway challenge. Being a big fan of MrBeast, eight-year-old Gabe was thrilled at the opportunity.
Tragically, the prank quickly turned sour when the two men blindfolded TJ and Gabe and abruptly fled the scene, leaving the pair feeling heartbroken and betrayed. The fact that Gabe has hearing difficulties only added to the cruelty of the prank, as the men had allegedly mentioned his disability as a reason for his selection.
However, amidst the disappointment, a silver lining emerged. The Commission for Persons with Disabilities for the Town of Southington stepped in to offer support. They generously donated a $200 gift card to Gabe, and Target matched the donation, allowing Gabe to enjoy a joyous shopping spree the following day. The kind gesture brought some much-needed happiness to the young boy's life.
The incident gained significant attention within the online community, with many expressing their outrage and sympathy for Gabe and his father. Even MrBeast himself took notice of the situation after the news spread. The support and recognition from both the local community and the YouTuber have helped bring some positivity to an otherwise distressing event.
Youtuber Pranks 8 Year Old
T.J. Lyles II and his 8-year-old son, Gabe, visited a Target store in Southington, Connecticut, expecting a regular shopping trip. However, they were approached by three strangers who offered them a "fill-a-cart challenge" as part of a prank. The challenge involved being blindfolded and given 30 seconds to fill a shopping cart with items, with the promise that the strangers would pay for whatever was inside.
Gabe, who has hearing loss and is a fan of the popular YouTuber MrBeast, was excited about the opportunity to participate. During the discussion about the challenge, Gabe mentioned his partial deafness, to which the strangers responded that they were specifically looking for someone like him.
To verify the legitimacy of the challenge, Lyles asked a Target employee who couldn't confirm it. Despite his doubts, Lyles agreed to participate to fulfill his son's excitement. However, after only 10 seconds into the challenge, the three men abruptly ran away, leaving Lyles and Gabe blindfolded and realizing they had been pranked.
Gabe was left shocked and humiliated, bursting into tears while Lyles comforted him. Outraged by the incident, Lyles took to Facebook to share the story and condemn the individuals who targeted children with special needs. Melissa Lapila Hallgren, the chair of the town's Commission for Persons with Disabilities, came across the post and reached out to Lyles to offer assistance.
Lapila Hallgren mobilized the commission, and they voted to allocate funds to help Gabe. With another commissioner, Lapila Hallgren visited the Target store and requested that the company match their donation of $200. Target agreed and expressed their delight in assisting Gabe. When Lyles learned of the news, he was overcome with gratitude.
Lapila Hallgren wasted no time and arranged for Gabe's $400 shopping spree to happen the following day. Gabe, an only child, was ecstatic and filled his cart with toys, games, and stuffed animals. Lyles was moved to tears by the generosity shown by the commission and Target.
After the story gained attention on local news, one of the pranksters posted a YouTube video of the prank, which Lyles believed was edited to exclude references to Gabe's disability and the claim of working for MrBeast. The prankster denied altering the video when contacted by The Washington Post. Although MrBeast did not respond to a comment request, Lyles mentioned that representatives from the YouTuber's team reached out to his family.
Despite the distress caused by the prank, Lyles saw it as a valuable lesson for his son about things that seem too good to be true. He also acknowledged the kindness and generosity displayed by the commission and hoped that the story would inspire others to do good deeds for those in need.
Mr Beast Wants to Get in Touch With 8 Year Old
After an 8-year-old fan named Gabe Lyles was pranked by two men pretending to work with YouTube star MrBeast, the philanthropic internet celebrity himself has stepped in to make things right. The incident occurred when Gabe and his father were shopping at a Target store in Connecticut when the two men approached them.
Claiming to be affiliated with MrBeast, the men invited Gabe and his father to participate in a video for the YouTuber's channel. They proposed a "fill-a-cart challenge" in which they would be blindfolded and given 30 seconds to fill a shopping cart with items, with the promise that the men would pay for the chosen items. Trusting the popularity of MrBeast, known for his generosity and giveaways, Gabe and his father agreed to take part in the challenge.
Gabe's father, TJ Lyles, informed him that he must have been selected due to his hearing impairment, as MrBeast's videos often highlight inclusivity and helping those in need. However, as soon as the blindfolds were on, TJ and Gabe heard the men running away, realizing it was a cruel prank. Gabe, who had been excited and believed his dreams were coming true, was left heartbroken by the deception.
Upon hearing about the incident, MrBeast took to Twitter, expressing his desire to find the young fan and make amends. He requested Gabe's information from the public, and within an hour, several people had responded, linking MrBeast to TJ Lyles' Facebook profile.
Although it is unclear what MrBeast intends to do once he contacts Gabe and his father, his involvement has brought hope and excitement to the situation. Prior to MrBeast's intervention, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities in Gabe's town had already provided him with a $200 Target gift card, which the store matched. This allowed Gabe to finally enjoy his desired shopping spree, as reported by WFSB, the local news outlet covering the story.
Who Pranked the 8 Year Old? - FAQs
Gabe and his father were pranked by two men pretending to work with YouTuber MrBeast while shopping at Target. The men invited them to participate in a "fill-a-cart challenge" for a video, promising to pay for whatever items they could gather within 30 seconds.
Gabe, who is a huge fan of MrBeast, was devastated by the prank. He expressed his disappointment, stating that it broke his heart because he thought his dreams were coming true.
After hearing about the incident, MrBeast took to Twitter to express his desire to make things right. He requested information about Gabe in order to reach out and rectify the situation.
It is not specified whether MrBeast has made contact with Gabe and his father yet. The details of what he plans to do to rectify the situation are also unknown at this time.
The online community expressed outrage and sympathy for Gabe and his father. Many people shared the story, and several individuals quickly responded to MrBeast's tweet, providing information to help him get in touch with Gabe's family.