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Original poster

Prank to far?

151 replies

Rainbowbagel · 28/10/2020 11:36

I have been the victim of a practical joke at work and it has really hit me hard.

A famous person that I really admired came into work the other day and I served them, I loved this person when I was younger more than I do now and although admittedly with all the headgear and mask I didn’t recognise them at first once they’d left and I’d realised who I served I because overwhelmed with excitement and nostalgia.

Two of my colleagues popped out soon after and came back in 10 minutes later presenting me with a box, it had a cake inside and my name and said celebrities signature on the front. They told me they’d bumped into this celeb and explained what happened and then the celeb had got me a cake and signed the box. (You can see where this is going)

I asked them repeatedly if it was a joke to which they swore adamantly it wasn’t, I proceeded to put it on social media and called those close to me in excitement all whilst asking them if it was a wind up!

A whole week later I am doing a job at work and I notice the same to sniggering in the corner, I asked what they were laughing at and they said not to worry followed by whispering, they carried on giggling and I felt a little left out so asked again, I then started to get the impression I was the joke, I asked if I had something on my face, if I’d said something to upset them or something silly. The laughing worsened and I started to panic and after about ten minutes of me practically begging to be let in on this joke they revealed that the celeb thing had all been a prank. I buried my head, informed them that I was extremely embarrassed and ran to the toiled where I burst into tears.

I have had an extremely tough few weeks (haven't we all!) I lost my job earlier in the year due to Covid and luckily managed to get this to help with bills and keep me afloat. I am struggling financially and I’m so lonely and this has just really got to me.

I counted these people as friends and I just feel so betrayed, the original prank was/is funny but to let me call/ tell people, to tag the celebrity to thank them Blush to be laughing behind my back for a whole week!

I am to embarrassed to speak with anyone about it and get a big emotional when I do so just wanted some (friendly) advice really

Being unreasonable - I am being overly sensitive

Not unreasonable- too far, almost bullying

I think I’ve just been having it so tough recently and this really got me through and now the realisation that it was all a joke at my expense hurts a little deeper.

Brb, just taking the signed fake box down from my wall Blush

OP posts:
Nottherealslimshady · 28/10/2020 15:58

I hate pranks. Laughing at making someone else feel scared/embarrassed/upset. It's just cruel.

diddl · 28/10/2020 16:02

"I think you over reacted, as pranks have been done in workplaces forever."

How would that make it acceptable, even if true?

MimiDaisy11 · 28/10/2020 16:06

I think it's mean. Especially the fact that they were laughing about it while you were there and how it all came out. Have they apologised? I don't get what's even funny about it.

CruCru · 28/10/2020 16:13

I don't think that you have anything to be embarrassed about.

If you are worried about what the celebrity thought when you thanked them on Twitter or whatever then please don't be. Depending on how famous they are, they will probably get loads of random messages from people and won't give it another thought.

I can see why this has upset you. I think having them carry on with the pretence for a week is quite strange. If they bring it again, can you say something like "You know, you got me! But it's getting a bit weird that you keep mentioning it - I'm not really sure what reaction you're expecting from me?"

You've learnt that these people are not your friends / friendly acquaintances. If they do anything similar then you'll know now that it's bullshit. It sounds as though you are relatively vulnerable right now and they've picked up on it.

If they keep going on about it, you could mention it in a matter of fact way to your line manager. However, it's better to try to shrug it off (and get them to stop going on about it) before it gets to this.

MimiDaisy11 · 28/10/2020 16:13

There can be some pranks which are funny, because they're something the person will find funny. This is just telling a lie which isn't unreasonable to believe. They sound like weirdos.

feistyoneyouare · 28/10/2020 16:20

@1forAll74

I think you over reacted, as pranks have been done in workplaces forever. You kind of made things worse for yourself, by posting on social media etc. It's something and nothing really, and I would consider it amusing.
It used to be considered acceptable for male bosses to pinch female colleagues' bottoms. Is that OK too, seeing as it was done 'forever'?
PivotPivotPivottt · 28/10/2020 16:21

This is so nasty Sad. I was going to suggest what a PP suggested about contacting the celebrity on Social Media. I don't use Twitter or Instagram which seems to be the main platforms most celebrities use but I imagine plenty of Mumsnetters will be willing to tweet/DM the celebrity with a link to this thread Smile.

Topseyt · 28/10/2020 16:27

Pranks like this are totally not funny. They prey on someone else's vulnerabilities etc. They amount to deception and humiliation, which is workplace bullying in my book.

I'd be tempted to out them publicly on social media - same place as you posted the pictures, as they obviously read things there. I'd be very clear about what a shit time you had already gone through and how this humiliation has made you feel and how you will now struggle to believe a word they say or to trust them ever again. Then hopefully your family and your real, true friends will come out and support you. That might just make these silly arses feel about three inches tall.

Report them higher up at work too if you can.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 28/10/2020 17:03

If I was your manager and you told me about that I'd be pulling them in for a chat about bullying and being a team player and the fact that the workplace requires its staff to behave with decency and decorum at all times and that we have no place for a silly little pair of sniggering, spiteful schoolgirls. I am a manager, I manage, I do not have time to be parenting.

Dohrehmee · 28/10/2020 17:24

It’s a really mean nasty thing to do. What you could do is get someone to phone work and say you had attempted suicide due to everyone sniggering at you and then
When u come back to work they’ll be so scared of you. Or you could get someone to say you’re in a far off hospital due to attempted suicide and then hopefully they’ll send some flowers and waste some money.

Plmoknijb123 · 28/10/2020 17:26

Play a prank back...put heavy laxatives in their drink and let them shit themselves. Then quit and work somewhere with better people. What they have done to you is horrible.

VettiyaIruken · 28/10/2020 17:41

That was very unkind.
They are not your friends.

twoshedsjackson · 28/10/2020 18:34

I agree about contacting HR!
If they raise the topic of the "prank" (unlikely, as they seem to have backed off now - realising they have gone too far, I hope), you might try saying, straightfaced, "One of these days, it will really matter to you that people believe what you say"

Skysblue · 28/10/2020 19:38

That wasn’t a prank, it was bullying. Pranks are brief and funny.

What horrible people. Sorry OP.

theemmadilemma · 29/10/2020 10:07

Na, that's nasty bullying.

Letting you think it for 5 mins might have been a joke. Beyond that and letting you post about it, is just fucking mean.

CSIblonde · 29/10/2020 11:09

Mean . And, bullyiing. Psychologically, jokes that are not harmless, but are cruel or embarrass the person ,are a 'legitimate' way to express hostility, by veiling it behind a 'joke'. I'd log any other incidents & take any consistent bullying further.

AryaStarkWolf · 29/10/2020 11:11

That was really cruel of them

Tunnocks34 · 29/10/2020 11:17

Not funny at all. Really though, they are the pathetic ones. Not you.

LilacPebbles · 29/10/2020 11:17

I'm not sure why they were laughing a week later. What's hilarious about successfully lying to someone? Are they not very clever in general?

ODFOx · 29/10/2020 11:19

It was mean. You could back-trick them by bringing out a 'real' signature that you were sent after tagging the celeb on SM but better to just have fond memories of the cake and remember that they are not to be trusted.

Smallsteps88 · 29/10/2020 11:22

I asked them repeatedly if it was a joke to which they swore adamantly it wasn’t, I proceeded to put it on social media and called those close to me in excitement all whilst asking them if it was a wind up!

So you didn’t think to tweet the celebrity to thank them for their gift? That might have shortened the prank significantly.

ladygracie · 29/10/2020 11:26

@Smallsteps88 It says in the OP that she tagged the celebrity to say thank you. I’m not sure why that would have shortened the prank though.

Smallsteps88 · 29/10/2020 11:28

Oh apologies, I missed that! As for why it would shorten the prank, a decent person would contact the OP and say “I’m sorry, there’s been a mistake, I haven’t bought anyone a cake or signed the box” . not sure who the celeb is but it’s a bit crap that they didn’t.

justanotherneighinparadise · 29/10/2020 11:29

They are simply cunts. It’s cuntish behaviour and I hope they feel fucking guilty that they made someone who already felt low, feel humiliated and caused them to cry.

nnnnumpty · 29/10/2020 11:40

Bullying dressed up to look like a prank , especially as they let it go on for so long
I would go to hr and complain