It all started last October when an American TikToker, @justjosephm, posted a video in which he climbed through the window of a Checkers restaurant drive-thru. His rallying cry became a meme: "No door, no problem." He grabbed some fries, joked with the employees, and left, all filmed and accompanied by the song "Trap Queen" by Fetty Wap. The idea caught on. The author quickly started posting more and more, until record several million views by early 2025, sometimes in duo with other content creators.
A filmed intrusion to get views
The concept is repeated over and over: people enter kitchens without authorization, often through the drive-thru window, sometimes over the counter, they play music, they joke, they film. And it pays off: according to some estimates, these videos can earn between 2,000 and 4,000 euros via TikTok's remuneration program, depending on the virality. and the status of the creator.
French figures like @monsieurjolan have seized on it in turn, contributing to the importation of the phenomenon into France. For the public, it's funny. For the creators, it's profitable. But for the employees filmed in spite of themselves, the reality is quite different.
Under the videos, the comments often revolve around the "cool" character or not of employees, as if their reaction was at the heart of the experience. In reality, many of these employees have no choice. They must face sometimes aggressive intrusions, with no way to oppose them.
“I don't particularly like my job, but what I hate most are the threats and the feeling of insecurity,” confides an employee quoted by a colleague in a testimonial video reprinted by 20 Minutes. A McDonald's manager even mentioned insults and death threats. These intrusions generate constant tension and real risks, rarely taken seriously by the authors of the videos, often very young.
The official McDonald's account on TikTok reacted with a touch of irony, saying it was "overwhelmed" by the phenomenon, while still expressing its discomfort with the this invasive trend.
Entering a private establishment without authorization, even for "joking," remains an illegal act. In France, this can be classified as swindling or trespassing, offenses punishable by six months in prison and a €7,500 fine. In the case of theft, or if the act causes injury or endangers staff, the penalties can be even harsher.
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