Ramaswamy among nearly $700K in donations for harassed Red Baron worker

A fundraiser for a Red Baron pizza worker in Michigan had attracted nearly $700,000 from almost 20,000 donations by 31 October after a video of a prank at his workplace spread online. The worker, identified as Walt, was stocking frozen pizzas when a man played a sound resembling an Apple Pay transaction and claimed to have taken $10 from him. No money was taken. Walt told the man that the stunt was distressing, saying he was struggling to pay his mortgage and had four children at home.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, and his wife Apoorva contributed $38,000, his campaign confirmed. Red Baron said the encounter had taken place in August, that Walt remained a valued employee and that it was supporting him. On the fundraiser page, Walt thanked donors while asking for privacy for his family. The campaign’s displayed total has since risen beyond the figure reported on 31 October.