Top 10 Normal People Who DESTROYED Their Careers on Camera
#9: Nelle Diala
In 2024, Diala was working as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines. During a layover, she was waiting for over 2 hours for the pilots to arrive and was celebrating nearing the end of her probation period. So, with an empty plane, Diala made a TikTok video of herself dancing and twerking in the aisle. Instead of the company enjoying an increase in its online presence as the video went viral, Alaska Airlines deemed Diala had broken the employee social media policy, resulting in her dismissal. The former employee then created a crowdfunding page to help raise money as she searched for new work. When Diala was interviewed at Inside Edition, she disclosed her belief that a racial element played a role in her firing.
#8: Brianna Pinnix
If you look at Pinnixs website, which promotes her work, she mentions her compassion several times. However, in 2023, there was little of that when she was aboard a New Jersey Transit train to New York City. Seemingly intoxicated, Pinnix had a real problem with a group of German tourists. She was captured on camera getting in their faces and going on a xenophobic rant, telling them to get out of her country. Throughout, Pinnixs partner does his best to take her away, even threatening to break up with her unless she stops. When the viral video caught the attention of her employers, the pharmaceutical company Capital Rx, where she worked as a senior talent acquisition specialist, the firm fired her.
#7: Seven Popeyes Milwaukee Workers
When it comes to fighting in a fast-food restaurant, usually, the brawls are between customers and workers or only customers. Well, in 2019, the formula was remade as a group of workers at a Popeyes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, kicked off dramatically. Recorded by a customer who just wanted something to eat, 7 employees, for an unknown reason, began brawling in the kitchen. The fight then spilled out into the restaurant, which was captured on camera, as the workers started throwing items at each other. In the end, the police arrived to de-escalate the situation. However, no arrests were made. Regardless, Popeyes fired all 7 involved in the battle, including the manager.
#6: Brian Gilley
As a D.A.R.E. police officer who teaches children the dangers of substance abuse, it wasnt unusual for Gilley to be at the Castle Heights Elementary School in Lebanon, Tennessee. However, for whoever checked his bodycam in 2024, they were in for visuals they werent expecting. Shortly after a child left the classroom, Gilley and teacher Shelby Moss seemingly got very intimate there and then. To make it more scandalous, Moss was married to someone else at the time. After initially denying the incident, Gilley admitted to the misconduct and resigned. He was later banned from being an officer throughout Tennessee. Moss was suspended as a teacher before she resigned as well.
#5: Connor Estelle
The YouTube channel Jubilee regularly goes viral with its content. After all, they often have one person with a belief face debate and questioning from dozens of people with opposing views, leading to drama. In 2025, progressive Mehdi Hasan faced 20 far-right people. Under the topic Donald Trump is defying the constitution, Estelle won the round of magical chairs to verbally combat Hasan. Well, it didnt look great for Estelle. He admitted to being a fascist, while cackling like a supervillain, and supporting hate groups. Estelle also underplayed the atrocities committed by Germany during World War II. After the video spread online, Estelle appeared on the podcast, Rift TV. As well as backtracking on his vile opinions, he also admitted hed lost his job.
#4: Ryan Caldwell
All Ally Keller and her fiancé, Alexander Basara, wanted to do was enjoy their beloved Green Bay Packers take on the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. Instead, they drew the ire of an Eagles fan who was sitting near them. Caldwell went on a massive misogynist tirade against Keller, calling her all sorts of horrible names. Unfortunately for Caldwell, it was all captured on camera by Basara. As the footage went viral, BCT Partners, a management consultancy firm that specializes in advising companies on diversity, recognized Caldwell as their employee, which they swiftly changed. Caldwell, who was also banned for life from Eagles home games, released a public apology, yet squeezed in a claim that they were provoked.
#3: Sam Johnson
For some individuals, nothing is more terrifying than people challenging gender norms when it comes to attire. In 2021, teenager Dalton Stevens decided to wear a red prom dress as he attended the event with his boyfriend. However, while he was outside a hotel in Franklin, Tennessee, with his boyfriend, he was approached by Johnson. The boyfriend then recorded the confrontation, which spread online. The clip showed Stevens arguing with Johnson, with the latter issuing insults at the teenager and his outfit. Immediately, viewers laid into Johnson for appearing to be homophobic, which he denied was the case. Regardless, his behavior resulted in his firing as CEO of VisuWell.
#2: Amy Cooper
In 2020, Christian Cooper was enjoying some birdwatching in New York City's Central Park when he spotted another Cooper, Amy, walking her dog. However, the pup was unleashed, which was against the rules in the area. Despite Christian asking her to leash the dog, Amy refused. This led to him making the smart decision to record her as she called the cops, claiming to them that there was an African-American man threatening my life. When the video went online, people were outraged over the racism as well as the treatment of her own dog. Her employers, investment company Franklin Templeton, shared the concerns of viewers by firing her. Amy tried suing the firm for wrongful dismissal. However, it was dismissed.
#1: Andy Byron
Everyone will know exactly where they were when this drama first unfolded on their phone screens. In 2025, while Coldplay performed in Boston, Massachusetts, the band showcased the kiss cam, selecting couples in the audience to put up on screen. However, when it got to Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, he flopped onto the floor as she hid her face while a friend tried hiding her awkward laughter. Well, Chris Martin joking about them having an affair was right on the money. Byron was the CEO of data company Astronomer and Cabot served as its Chief People Officer. Both were married to other people. Yikes. Shortly after the duo were put on leave, Byron resigned, with Cabot following a week later.
Are there any other incidents of non-famous people who saw their careers go up in smoke after doing something scandalous on video that we missed? Let us know below!
