‘Good while it lasted’: Sad fate for ‘hilarious’ viral Kmart worker

A Kmart worker who went viral for mucking around on the job has revealed an “outrageous” update, saying he faced unexpected consequences.

A Kmart worker who was caught mucking around on the job has given an “outrageous” update. Picture: TikTok.

A Kmart worker who went viral for hilariously mucking around on the job has revealed an “outrageous” update, saying he faced unexpected consequences for his behaviour.

Liam Gildea, an Aussie musician, last month shared a video of himself putting a personal spin on Kmart’s in-store closing announcement.

In the clip, Mr Gildea could be heard giving the announcement in a theatrical British accent while playing classical music into the microphone.

“Good evening customers. As the time is now 8:50pm, this store will close in 10 minutes time and as the sun must set on a beautiful horizon, so too must you make your way to the front of the store to finalise your purchases,” he declared as Vivaldi’s “Spring” played in the background.

“Do note, tomorrow morning we reopen at 8am for your shopping convenience. Good morrow, customers, good morrow.”

The video went viral on TikTok, where it was viewed 11 million times. Most people were delighted, except for one key player — Kmart.

“I’ve always done those announcements a little bit off script,” Mr Gildea said in a recent video update about the situation.

“There’s a little thing written down for employees to just read off of, and I just wanted to have a little bit of fun, change things up a little bit.”

Mr Gildea said he would “tweak words every now and then”, including composing a festive rap at Christmas time.

“(I was) just generally trying to have fun at my job, basically,” he said.

“I posted this video with the exaggerated British accent and the music, and did not expect it to blow up, like, beyond comprehension.”

Mr Gildea often put spins on Kmart’s closing announcements — but then one attempt went viral. Picture: TikTok.

Kmart, it turned out, didn’t find Mr Gildea’s viral take quite so funny.

“They told me I was in breach of the SOPs (standard operating procedures) for how we close the store and I was supposedly in breach of the social media policy,” he told his followers.

Mr Gildea said he was told to “limit” his replies to comments on the initial video and banned from making store announcements.

“I got reprimanded for it,” he said.

“Little bit upsetting. I was trying to enjoy my job.”

After the incident, Mr Gildea said he decided to resign from his position at Kmart.

“I don’t work at Kmart anymore because of this,” he said.

“I think it was handled pretty poorly, but onwards and upwards I suppose.

“I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.”

Mr Gildea said he decided to resign from his position after Kmart’s response. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Many commenters expressed outrage over the situation, even tagging the Kmart Australia TikTok account and demanding they take Mr Gildea back.

“Fun police. Kmart, do better,” wrote one person.

“Companies really are allergic to people having fun with their work,” added another.

“C’mon Kmart Australia, he was adding to the customer experience. You need more employees like this,” someone else wrote.

Others said it was a “missed opportunity” by Kmart for positive marketing.

“They didn’t jump on the free advertising??” one person puzzled.

News.com.au has contacted Kmart for comment.