A viral TikTok experiment by influencer Nikalie Monroe has sparked national debate over compassion and hypocrisy within faith communities, after more than 30 churches failed to respond to a fictional mother begging for baby formula.
The social media saga, which now spans 43 parts, began as a simple test of empathy and has since snowballed into a wider commentary on religion, charity, and public accountability.
On Halloween, Monroe launched her social experiment by calling various churches across the United States (including Charlie Kirk’s church) posing as a struggling mother unable to afford food for her baby.
She recorded the phone calls and uploaded them to TikTok, where they quickly went viral, racking up millions of views. To add realism, Monroe sometimes played a faint sound of a crying baby in the background as she explained her plight.
Her request was simple: could the church help her feed her child?
A viral TikTok experiment by influencer Nikalie Monroe has sparked national debate over compassion and hypocrisy within faith communities, after more than 30 churches failed to respond to a fictional mother begging for baby formula.
The social media saga, which now spans 43 parts, began as a simple test of empathy and has since snowballed into a wider commentary on religion, charity, and public accountability.
On Halloween, Monroe launched her social experiment by calling various churches across the United States (including Charlie Kirk’s church) posing as a struggling mother unable to afford food for her baby.
She recorded the phone calls and uploaded them to TikTok, where they quickly went viral, racking up millions of views. To add realism, Monroe sometimes played a faint sound of a crying baby in the background as she explained her plight.
Her request was simple: could the church help her feed her child?
More often than not, the answer was no. Reasons varied from logistical excuses to outright refusals, with some church staff telling her:
“We stopped doing that.”
“You don’t know anyone here.”
“We’re a church for older people.”
“You need to go to the store or the local government.”
10 Out of 43 Said Yes (Most Were Mosques)
Of the 43 faith-based institutions contacted, only 10 offered help, and the first to respond positively were Islamic centers and mosques.
The rest, largely Christian churches, declined in varying tones. Some were polite but unhelpful; others were dismissive. Monroe’s series highlighted how frequently people in need are redirected or ignored when seeking basic aid.
The videos struck a nerve online, drawing millions of views and igniting fierce debate in comment sections. Supporters praised the project for revealing gaps in religious outreach, while critics accused Monroe of deception for faking distress.
Churches Hit Back – One Pastor Calls Her an “Evil Witch”
After the videos gained traction, several churches publicly responded. Some attempted to clarify their charitable practices, while others condemned the influencer directly.
A pastor from Baton Rouge addressed the controversy during a Sunday sermon, insisting his church helps those in need but calling Monroe’s phone call a “dirty deed.” He then referred to her as an “evil witch” who would be “dealt with swiftly” if she ever visited the church.
@cait_apologist Pastor Raymond W. Johnson from Christian Center Baton Rouge LA that would not help feed a hungry baby in response to @Nikalie 🌈 #fyp #viral #trending #nikaliemonroe #hungrybabytest
Another pastor reportedly devoted nearly 20 minutes of his service to denouncing Monroe, describing her as “folly, seductive and knowing nothing,” while labeling her a “woke liberal.”
One man, whose role in his congregation was unclear, bluntly stated that it was not his “obligation” to help people in such circumstances.
Online Reaction and Continuing Fallout
The ongoing saga has divided TikTok and beyond, with some viewers saying Monroe’s experiment exposed moral failings in institutions that preach compassion, while others claim it unfairly targets religious communities.
As the series continues to unfold, Monroe maintains that her goal is to highlight how people (and organizations) respond when empathy is tested.
This viral experiment shows no signs of slowing down, and with more churches expected to respond, the conversation around faith, charity, and accountability is only getting louder.
VT has contacted Dream City Church for comment.
