A Massachusetts man says he was accidentally locked inside a Target after stopping to use the bathroom shortly before the store closed. Xavier Hardin said he had entered the store only minutes before closing and was given permission to use the restroom, but staff allegedly left without realizing he was still inside. He eventually spent about 40 minutes alone in the closed store.
The incident was shared on TikTok by Xavier, who uses the username XavierHardinn. His original video received nearly one million views, while a follow-up explaining what happened also drew attention from viewers.
The video shows Xavier walking through an empty Target after the store had closed. With the lights on but no customers or regular staff around, he described the experience as both creepy and crazy.
In his follow-up, the Massachusetts man clarified that he did not work for Target, despite some viewers joking that he had become an employee. He said he was actually a UPS worker and had entered the store about 10 minutes before closing. Before using the bathroom, he asked an employee if he could use the restroom and was told that he could.
Xavier said the staff apparently assumed he had already left and closed the store without checking whether anyone was still inside. He ended up trapped in the building for around 40 minutes.
He also explained that he does not have a gallbladder, which contributed to his decision to make a quick bathroom stop despite the store being close to closing. Fortunately, security eventually noticed him on the surveillance cameras and helped him get out.
Massachusetts Man Gets Hilarious Online Reactions
The reaction was mostly humorous, with viewers immediately wondering how long Xavier had been in the bathroom. One user asked, “How long were you in there?”
Others joked that he should have treated the situation like an unexpected overnight stay. Some suggested grabbing an air mattress and making himself comfortable, while others joked that he could simply put on a vest and start working there. Several viewers also teased him about taking a long bathroom break, with some blaming men for spending too much time in the restroom.
At the same time, some commenters raised more serious questions about Target’s closing procedures. They wondered why employees did not check the bathrooms before locking up and suggested that someone should have noticed the Massachusetts man was still inside. Others pointed out that overnight workers or an emergency exit might have offered another way out.
His mention of not having a gallbladder also sparked jokes and comments from people who said they understood the bathroom struggle. Xavier went to Target for a quick bathroom break. Somehow, he ended up getting an exclusive after-hours tour.
