A comedian who used to steal his classmate’s lunch in elementary school has made amends for his bullying more than 15 years later after TikTok helped him reconnect with his former friend.
Joe Erwin, 24, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, shared his story in a now-viral video last week, explaining how he used to take his pal Dylan’s pizza when they were in the first grade together.
‘What’s a terrible thing you did as a child that you feel really bad about as an adult?’ he asked viewers at the start of the clip, admitting: ‘I used to steal a kid’s lunch every day and eat it right in front of him.’
Joe Erwin, 24, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, opened up about how he used to steal his friend Dylan’s pizza when they were in the first grade in a now-viral TikTok video
Erwin (left) said they were friends and used to sit next to each other at lunch, but he assumed Dylan (right) didn’t get hungry like he did because he was a ‘little guy’
Erwin explained that he was friends with Dylan at the time and didn’t realize his actions were hurtful. He just wanted his lunch.
‘We both always got pizza, and we always sat next to each other. We actually played at recess together. We were friends,’ he recalled. ‘But he was a little guy and — surprise — I was a fat kid. So I just I thought, “Since he’s such a little guy, he doesn’t get hungry like I do.”‘
Erwin said he would trick Dylan into looking in the opposite direction, and once he turned his head, he would grab his pizza and put it on his own plate.
When Dylan told him that he didn’t like it when he stole his lunch, he would say: ‘Oh, I’m sorry, man. I’m just hungry. That’s all.’ But he never gave him his food back.
The comedian recalled how he’d trick Dylan into looking in the opposite direction, and once he turned his head, he would grab his pizza and put it on his own plate
Erwin ended the video by issuing a public apology to Dylan and offering to take him out to the ‘most expensive pizza place’ he could think of
‘I’d absolutely house that pizza right in front of him, and he didn’t get to eat lunch,’ he said with remorse.
Erwin asked his viewers if any of them knew a guy named Dylan who went to Jenks West Elementary in Jenks, Oklahoma, and is now in his mid-20s.
‘Dylan, if you’re out there, I’m sorry man,’ he added. ‘I want to take you out to the most expensive pizza place that you could think of. I know it’s not gonna completely make it right, but I at least want to say I’m sorry.’
Erwin’s video has been viewed more than 9.4 million times since it was posted on March 15 and has received thousands of comments.
In a follow-up clip, Erwin revealed that he tracked down Dylan on Facebook after finding his last name in his friend’s old
After Erwin messaged him to make amends, Dylan admitted he had ‘no clue’ he was the one who stole his pizza every day
The old friends have made plans to reconnect in Kansas City, Kansas, on May 14
‘You didn’t hear? Dylan starved to death, never saw the second grade,’ one person joked, while another added: ‘And Dylan grew up to become Papa John.’
‘Sometimes bullies don’t know they’re a bully,’ someone else noted.
In a follow-up clip, Erwin revealed that he tracked down Dylan on Facebook after finding his last name in his friend’s old yearbook. When he messaged him, he shared his video and explained he wanted to make amends.
‘This is amazing! Haha. Of course, I remember you, and I’ve seen your fantasy O-line TikToks,’ Dylan replied. ‘I remember this happening, but I had no clue it was you. Next time I’m in Tulsa, pizza’s on you, man!’
They made plans to reconnect sometime this spring, and in Erwin’s most recent video, he shared that he is going to be driving four hours to meet up with Dylan in Kansas City, Kansas, on May 14.
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