A man whose paint-mixing videos went viral on TikTok has been sacked from his job at a paint store. He explains why in the video below:
Tony Piloseno, from Ohio, USA, first shared the clips on the social media platform back in December 2019 and soon racked up millions of views - with his vids proving particularly popular with ASMR fans.
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The 22-year-old has gone on to amass 1.4 million followers, with his paint-mixing videos clocking up a total of 24.1 million likes.
However, his viral fame has come at a price, as the student has now been sacked from his part-time role at paint store, Sherwin-Williams.
Tony began working for the company in August 2017 but was dismissed in July following a customer complaint.
Tony said the company accused him of numerous violations of company policy.
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He said: "When I first made my TikTok channel, I recognised users were engaging and enjoying my paint-mixing content. With TikTok being a younger user base, I developed a business presentation to show Sherwin-Williams how it could be beneficial to developing brand awareness for the company.
"I showed the presentation to my supervisors, who then referred me to the VP of marketing at Sherwin-Williams.
"After two months of trying to reach this VP via email, phone and LinkedIn, he responded in May 2020 and said the company was holding off on extra promotions and that there wasn't a need to see the presentation."
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He continued: "In July I had gotten a call from the loss prevention department and was told a customer complained about my videos to customer service.
"At first, I was being accused of stealing paint and products, which I wasn't, and after a very harsh interrogation from the director of loss prevention, he concluded I violated gross misconduct policies, such as filming videos on the clock and using the company tint machine.
"I was never asked why I was making the videos or what my actual intentions were of creating them."
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Tony added that his termination papers accused him of making TikToks during working hours, as well as 'wasting properties and facilities' and 'seriously embarrassing the company or its products'.
But his dismissal hasn't stopped him from making paint-mixing videos and sharing them with his huge following.
Tony said: "My friends have been letting me use their basement as a painting studio. I purchased a lightbox and miscellaneous gallons from around the state with my own money.
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"I borrowed my friend's truck to haul the paint back home and my family has been very supportive of my content and goals. I hope to develop my own brand of merchandise and custom paint colours.
"I would just like to say to Sherwin-Williams that I really did enjoy working for their company. I appreciated all the skills I developed with them and all the great people I worked with.
"I hope next time they give smaller employees a chance when they think they have an idea to help the company."
Julie Young, vice president of global corporate communications at Sherwin-Williams, told BuzzFeed News: "While we don't discuss the details of employee matters publicly, what I can tell you is that we were made aware of the TikTok videos produced by Anthony Piloseno through a customer complaint.
"We take all complaints seriously and thoroughly investigated the customer's concerns. Following the investigation, Mr. Piloseno was let go in July 2020 due to multiple Company policy violations."
LADbible has contacted Sherwin-Williams for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Jam PressTopics: Viral, US News, tiktok