Influencer splashes £160 on McDonald’s for the homeless – but gets absolutely savaged by critics for ‘selfish’ gesture

AN INFLUENCER has been forced to defend herself against fierce online backlash, after she filmed herself driving to McDonald’s and then delivering the order to a homeless shelter.

Sophia Begg, from Australia, shared a clip of the $322.50 (£176.76) takeaway bill on Saturday, before taking the food to homeless charity Will2live.

Tik TokSophia Begg spent £180 on Big Macs for the homeless[/caption]

Tik TokBut the influencer was targeted by trolls who accused her of doing it for clout[/caption]

Tik TokSophia says that her act not only benefited the homeless but also the Ronald McDonald foundation[/caption]

The 17-year-old said that she was “killing two birds with one stone” because it was McHappy Day — meaning $2 (£1.10) from each of the Big Macs she purchased would be donated to sick children and their families.

“If you haven’t already, go support Ronald McDonald House and buy a Big Mac … Shoutout to Will2live who will be giving these to the homeless,” she wrote.

But commenters jumped on her case, accusing the teen of using the donation as a means of gaining followers, and asking why she didn’t just give the money she’d spent on the food to the charity.

“In all honesty you should have just donated the money directly to Ronald McDonald House,” one person wrote.

“Not sure what giving out burgers to the homeless would achieve.”

Another accused Sophia of “doing it for clout”, and asked why she “would document this and take a video of the price?”

She responded to the backlash in a second video on Sunday, calling the amount of hate she’d gotten for the generous act “incredible”.

“I literally can’t deal with people sometimes … The amount of hate I’ve gotten is ridiculous. Everyone is saying that I should’ve just donated directly and it was a waste,” she said in the clip.

“I ended up supporting two charities at once through buying a Big Mac for McHappy Day and giving them to the homeless.”

She went on to speak about her past donations to the Ronald McDonald House, saying she does it “all the time” and has “for years”.

“When I was younger I used to donate food and milk to the house every week and go deliver it. I shaved my head in Year 6 on Channel 7 to raise money. And I sell all my clothes and give 100% of the proceeds to Ronald McDonald House. I just think it’s ridiculous that I’m getting hate.

“Also a lot of the people were saying like, ‘Oh yeah, you did this just for TikTok, you did this for content … Sure I could have donated directly, but the whole point in my head was to use my platform to make people aware of McHappy Day.

“I thought it would be a waste of my platform not to share something like this that is so close to my heart … I just feel like I’ve been getting so much hate.”

“Also a lot of the people were saying like, ‘Oh yeah, you did this just for TikTok, you did this for content … Sure I could have donated directly, but the whole point in my head was to use my platform to make people aware of McHappy Day.

“I thought it would be a waste of my platform not to share something like this that is so close to my heart … I just feel like I’ve been getting so much hate.”

Quizzed over why she drove to a McDonald’s almost half an hour away, Sophia said it was because “the charity we gave them to lived that far away”.

“We went to a Maccas closest to them so [the burgers] weren’t cold,” she added.

She thanked those among her 360,000 TikTok followers who had sent her kind messages amid the backlash.

“People are miserable, you did a wonderful thing and should feel proud,” one person wrote.

“She literally killed two birds w one stone by donating and giving back to the homeless what is the issue,” said another.

This article was originally published on News.com.au and has been republished here with permission.