Viral comedian Damon Darling says he has been banned for life from Walmart after a confrontation at an Ohio store where he planned to pay for strangers’ groceries.
In an Aug. 7 video titled “They Kicked Me Out Again,” Darling questioned why an employee would not let him enter. He said local police and a woman he believed was the store manager had previously given him permission to film there.
Walmart has now pushed back on the suggestion that Darling’s charitable giveaways were behind the decision. The retailer told TMZ that its action followed repeated policy violations involving disruptive behavior and trespassing and was “unrelated to any charitable giving.”
The confrontation prompted some of Darling’s supporters to call for a Walmart boycott. Darling has since urged them to keep shopping there, saying he will respect the company’s decision and find another place to continue the positive content and giveaways he now focuses on.
The Store Dispute Began With a Question Over Permission
The employee in Darling’s video told him he was not permitted inside and would be trespassing if he remained. Darling replied that he was there to buy groceries for shoppers and said both police and a manager had previously told him he could be there.
Darling also showed a brief earlier exchange with a woman who appeared to approve his visit. The employee disputed that she was the store manager and suggested she may have allowed Darling inside without knowing about the restriction.
The employee told Darling that Walmart was private property and that local police could not override the company’s decision about whether he was allowed inside. Darling continued questioning the restriction and at one point said he would take the issue to the Supreme Court.
After another attempt to get permission to enter, Darling ultimately left. He made clear that he did not want the disagreement to turn into legal trouble or create additional problems with Walmart. Darling later said he had been given a lifetime ban. Subsequent coverage of the incident reported that a police officer informed him the restriction was permanent.
Walmart Says the Ban Was Unrelated to Darling’s Giveaways
“We deeply care about our associates and customers. Mr. Darling has repeatedly violated our policies through disruptive behavior and trespassing, unrelated to any charitable giving,” a Walmart spokesperson told TMZ.
TMZ pointed to older videos Darling had posted from Walmart stores in which he performed comedy stunts that included throwing merchandise, staging falls around shoppers and pouring milk over himself.
During an Aug. 11 appearance on TMZ Live, Darling acknowledged that his earlier content may have contributed to Walmart’s decision. He said his videos have evolved over time and that his current focus is on more positive interactions, including paying for groceries and giving money to strangers.
Darling Asks Fans Not to Boycott Walmart
Before Walmart publicly explained its position, The Daily Dot reported that some commenters were rallying around Darling and suggesting a boycott until he was allowed back.
Darling does not want his supporters retaliating against the retailer. During his TMZ Live interview, he said he did not want people boycotting Walmart or refusing to shop there because of what happened to him.
He also said he would stop filming at Walmart and comply with the company’s request. Darling’s charitable content is not ending with the ban. He said he plans to find another place or “avenue” where he can continue the positive interactions that have become the focus of his more recent videos.