Holiday shopping in New York already comes with enough stress. Crowded aisles, endless lines, and budgets stretched thinner by the day. But for one mother, a seasonal shopping trip took a turn that left people stunned for all the wrong reasons.
What unfolded wasn’t a moment of desperation or holiday chaos gone wrong. It was a deliberate choice that turned a shopping trip into an example of behavior that has shoppers everywhere shaking their heads.
At first glance, nothing about the situation looked urgent or desperate. No panic, no emergency, no explanation that would even remotely justify what happened next. That’s what makes this moment so unsettling, and so infuriating.
“Because I Want It” Makes It Okay For New York Mom
The incident unfolded inside a Target store when a New York mother was filmed removing a large promotional Wicked poster directly from a store display. This wasn’t an item for sale, and it certainly wasn’t free. It was part of a marketing setup, meant to stay in the store. The reason behind it? Her child wanted Wicked posters for Christmas.
Instead of using the moment to explain that you can’t just take things that don’t belong to you, the mother chose a different lesson entirely. She smiled, checked her surroundings, peeled the poster off the display, and tucked it away like it was no big deal. The whole thing had the energy of a mischievous prank, except it wasn’t funny. It was theft.
The situation didn’t stop at one poster. Once outside in the parking lot, it became clear just how far this had gone. The posters were so large that they barely fit into the car, leading to an awkward struggle to get them inside without damaging them. Eventually, they made it work, and later revealed they didn’t take just one, but multiple posters.
Poor Parenting Choice Becomes a Crime Spree
Six in total. At that point, it wasn’t impulsive. It was intentional. What’s left is a sour taste for many is the example being set. This New York mom wasn’t sneaking around alone. She was modeling behavior for her child and, by extension, for everyone watching online. Teaching a kid that rules don’t apply if you really want something is a dangerous lesson. One that doesn’t stop at posters.
People like this are exactly why prices creep up, why security gets tighter, and why everyday shoppers deal with locked cases and extra surveillance. Whether it’s stealing products outright or ripping pieces from store displays, the result is always the same. Everyone else pays for it.
Unsurprisingly, viewers were far less amused than the woman appeared to be. Most criticism focused squarely on the adult, not the child. Many pointed out that kids learn what they live, and this was a masterclass in entitlement. Others noted how casually people justify stealing from big retailers, as if size somehow makes it harmless.
“These people are some of THEE most obnoxious guests to come in the store,” one commenter notes.
“Show the world you are a thief and also teaching your daughter that it is ok to steal. Parenting in 2025,” a second adds.
“She was definitely a pick-me girl in high school. Too dumb to be embarrassed,” one more claims.
This wasn’t about Wicked. It wasn’t about Target. And it certainly wasn’t about fandom. It was about boundaries, responsibility, and the kind of behavior that quietly erodes trust in shared spaces. In New York and everywhere else, moments like this remind us that small choices still matter.
Kenna Raye 
