Viral TikTok Video Searching For Airport Employee Has Surprise Ending

When Josue Lopez saw a scene that tugged at his heartstrings, he took TikTok for help.

While passing through Pittsburgh International Airport recently, Lopez saw an older gentleman hunched over pushing a janitor's cart, and he felt compelled to help in some way. That's where the viral video enters the story. After a few days of people sharing the video and commenting that they know the man or would like to offer some help, the man in question has spoken up, and it's probably not exactly what everyone was expecting to hear.

When Lopez saw the older man pushing the cart hunched over, he felt something needed to be done. The video's caption explained the situation. "I need to find this man! My plane was boarding, and at the time didn't think of getting his information because I didn't think I could help, but I wanted to start a go fund for him with his permission to help him retire. Please help me find him saw him at the Pittsburgh International Airport this morning."

The video has received over 16 million views, 1.7 million likes, and 47,000 comments in just two days. Many commentators liked the idea of starting a GoFund Me page in honor of the man, and others just expressed how sad they felt watching him still working so hard at his age.

"I work at the airport, too, and it breaks my heart to see him. If I can help, I would love to. Please help him. To take a vaca or something," one person wrote in the comments. Another person added, "Sad also is that he's working a lot harder than much of the generation just entering and headed to the workforce ?"

And with tons of comments about wanting to help or feeling sad seeing that he's still working so hard at his age, there was a flip side reminding people not to assume the worst constantly.

"He might be richer than most and working to have a purpose," one follower wrote. "What would he be doing otherwise? Getting ready to die? Work givers meant to live for the elderly."

Another person added to that thought, saying, "That's the problem today. This old-timer probably wants to work! He gets up every morning with a purpose. Regardless of what that is. Youth could learn."

A news segment on CBS News Pittsburgh gave an update on the video, and many might be shocked to hear how this particular update unfolded.

"What would you do if someone took a video of you doing your job and posted it for the world? Well, that's exactly what happened to one local man," the news reporter said.

Another reporter then explained that while the intentions behind the video were good, not everyone, including this man, wanted the attention that a viral video could bring.

The news discovers that the man wants privacy and is uninterested in helping. The news segment went on to show the TikTok video and explain how the man feels.

"It's the manhunt this Pittsburgh janitor never asked for," the reporter said. "A viral TikTok video with the caption, 'This man should not be working anymore at this age. This made me so sad.'"

The news channel found this man, and he told them that he "loves his job." He's also perplexed by the newfound attention and the "weird workings of the internet in general."

His employer, ISS, stated on behalf of the man after they explained what was going on.

The news also spoke to some people at the airport who told them that the man, who's 71 years old, is a bit overwhelmed by all the attention and is taking some time off to process it all.