Viral Perfume Kiosk Damage Video Sparks Probe; Salary Allegations Disputed

27/05/2026

RIYADH, May 27: A viral video showing a female employee damaging a perfume kiosk inside a shopping mall in Saudi Arabia has triggered widespread online debate, after initial claims suggested she had not received her salary for seven months.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media, shows the employee smashing perfume bottles and causing damage to the kiosk, sparking public outrage and sympathy based on unverified reports of prolonged unpaid wages.

However, an official inquiry conducted by the Ministry of Human Resources has since clarified the facts after contacting both the employee and the establishment involved in the incident.

According to the investigation, the employee had been working at the outlet since May 13, meaning she had been employed for less than two weeks at the time of the incident. Authorities confirmed that the widely circulated claim that she had not received a salary for seven months is false and misleading.

Despite correcting the misinformation, the ministry acknowledged that the employee did experience a loss of certain entitlements, indicating that a legitimate labour-related dispute may still exist and requires further review.

Officials urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims, especially in cases involving labour disputes, and emphasized the importance of allowing formal investigations to establish facts before concluding.