Social and political debate has erupted online following the actions of popular TikToker Nikalie Monroe. Her controversial conduct has sparked a spectrum of reactions: some endorse her, while others have labeled her “evil” or a “witch.” But what exactly did she do to ignite such controversy?
Monroe produced a series of videos in which she contacted various churches, posing as a desperate mother seeking food for her struggling baby. Her aim was to document and reveal the range of responses from different congregations. For many viewers, the churches’ answers were either deeply shocking or entirely expected —depending on their perspective.
On Oct. 31, Monroe launched her social experiment with a call to East Sommerset Baptist Church. In a brief, one-and-a-half-minute video, Monroe pleaded for help under the guise of a struggling mother. The church’s answer was a firm no — a sobering beginning to what would become a revealing series.
She went on to call more than 40 churches and, according to the spreadsheet linked in this article, found that of the 42 institutions that responded, 33 refused to provide baby formula while only nine agreed to help. Among the responses, several churches cited membership requirements as the reason for denying aid. First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, after placing her on hold, transferred her to an automated system. Lakewood Church, a well-known megachurch, informed her that it could take days or even weeks for her request to be “approved.”
In a revealing exchange with Woodmen Valley Chapel in Colorado Springs, Monroe was flatly denied assistance for baby formula by the church’s receptionist. After disclosing the call was part of a social experiment, Monroe inquired whether the church identified as pro-life — a point the receptionist affirmed. When pressed on why a pro-life church would refuse to help a starving infant, the representative sidestepped the question and referred Monroe to another organization for aid. The moment, captured on video, underscores the disconnect between stated values and real-world action.
The wave of online commentary was swift and pointed, with many users voicing frustration and disappointment at the negative responses from several churches. One user, ihatelivinginarizona, remarked, “This is why I don’t go to church anymore. They’re just tax free social clubs that give motivational speeches.” Committed Kansas Activists wrote: “I don’t remember Jesus saying you’d need to be a member of his church for him to help you.”
Not all faith communities turned her away. First Baptist Church in Jeffersontown — a historically Black congregation — responded with compassion, asking for Monroe’s contact information and details about the baby’s needs to provide meaningful assistance. Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church not only offered immediate help but also followed up with information about ongoing programs. The Buddhism Temple of North Carolina provided resources based on Monroe’s location, while the Islamic Center of Charlotte quickly asked what formula was needed and invited her to their center. These positive responses garnered widespread praise online, highlighting the diversity of reactions among religious institutions.
Monroe concluded her series with a reflective video outlining her motivations and aspirations behind the experiment. She warned viewers against donating to organizations lacking transparency, and emphasized her ambition to launch a platform dedicated to helping struggling families access vital resources. Monroe encouraged her audience to join her mission, declaring, “Nobody should be homeless. Nobody should be going hungry. I’m really hoping that something like this takes off.”