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A Walmart Shopper Did Something Awful To A Bottle Of Listerine — Then Put It Back On The Shelf

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Olivia Harvey
Published July 9, 2019

What is the internet if not a place for cat gifs, Twitter feuds, and silly viral challenges? After a decidedly disgusting video of a Texas woman licking a pint of Blue Bell ice cream made its way around the internet, others were inspired to follow suit with their own disgusting “challenges.” The latest victim in this gross viral trend is a bottle of Listerine. The minty mouthwash is supposed to make users feel fresh, but this new and hazardous prank will make you feel anything but.

Here’s how it went down: on July 3, 2019, a Walmart shopper opened a bottle of the mouthwash, took a swig, gargled, spit the contaminated wash into the bottle, and then placed it back on the shelf. No, we aren’t kidding.

“Girl, it has been one musty f*cking morning,” said Twitter user Bameron Nicole Smith, the shopper in the video. She perused her mouthwash options and landed on a bottle of Listerine.

“You b*tches with no oral hygiene could take a hint,” Smith continued as she opened the bottle of Listerine and used the product. She then spit her used mouthwash back into the container, which she then placed back onto the shelf. Cue vomiting.

Although the video was liked over 22,000 times and garnered over 7,500 retweets, the mentions were filled with disgust. If you are easily grossed out, you should definitely avoid watching the footage.

On July 4th, Smith provided proof of purchase after posting the Listerine video. But depending on how local authorities wish to deal with the incident⁠ — if at all — Smith could face legal action.

Shortly after the Blue Bell incident, authorities in East Texas got involved and ultimately turned the case over to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after discovering the girl in the video is a minor.

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But this didn’t stop others from trying out the same prank.

A copycat ice cream-licker was arrested in Louisiana after posting his video on Facebook. Although police discovered he actually purchased the carton of ice cream after filming the video, he was still charged with “criminal mischief” for tampering with a product before purchase. Police also charged him with “unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity,” according to The New York Times.

Even though this video turned out to be a hoax, we’re still not okay with it. Is vying for attention online really worth all the negativity?

Despite the amount of likes and retweets, Smith’s Listerine video has so much negative feedback it was nearly impossible to find one person who actually approved of the prank. If that doesn’t demonstrate that this “challenge” isn’t funny, we don’t know what will.

The Blue Bell-licker started something that has really gone off the rails. Let’s let this trend die, shall we?

Fellow Twitter users are calling for the authorities to get involved. And TBH, we’re with them on this.

If someone chooses not to buy the product after tampering with it, another person out there could get really sick — especially if that person has a compromised immune system.

If authorities have to get involved to send a message, as they did in Louisiana, then we’re all for it. The #icecreamchallenge in all its forms must be stopped.

Honestly, this entire thing is just dumb. We can see you, and we hate what you’re doing!

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Sadly, Smith is also receiving transphobic comments as well as negate feedback about the prank. It’s just a lose-lose scenario.

A lose-lose scenario that Smith doesn’t really seem to be taking seriously. Yikes.

We’re giving the whole thing a 0/10. It’s gross and unoriginal.

And as much as we dislike the spread of negativity and hate online, we have to agree with all of those people calling out this bad behavior. It has to stop.

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Now THIS is an #icecreamchallenge we can get on board with. Agreed?

Guys, let’s stop doing gross stuff and go back to shopping like normal. This whole challenge wasn’t funny to begin with.