Sia surprises Thanksgiving shoppers at Walmart by going ‘undercover’ and paying for people’s food

'I’m sorry for telling everyone once I realised who you were!' tweets shopper

Saturday 30 November 2019 15:28 GMT

(Getty Images)

Sia surprised Thanksgiving shoppers on Thursday by going “undercover” at her local Walmart and paying for people’s food.

The “Chandelier” singer visited the Palm Springs, California branch of the US chain and, according to social media users, started paying for people’s groceries.

The musician did not reveal her identity at first, telling shoppers she was a recent lottery winner named Cici.

A video posted on Twitter by Adri Buckles shows Sia, whose full name is Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, walking around the supermarket and paying for one customer before asking, “Who’s next?”

Buckles claimed she was one of the shoppers whose groceries the singer paid for.

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

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1/10Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

1. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

You’ll have to head out to see this one, since it was just released in cinemas and isn’t yet available to stream. If you can find a screening in your area, this just might prove the ultimate Thanksgiving watch. It doesn’t get much more family-friendly than Tom Hanks starring as the universally loved Fred Rogers, host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The Independent’s review noted that it’s “hard not to be moved by the film’s warmth and kind heart” – just what’s needed on the third Thursday of November.

YouTube / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

2. Addams Family Values (1993)

America’s favourite Goth family does Thanksgiving right. Cast as a Native American in a problematic play, Wednesday delivers an iconic monologue challenging the whitewashed version of the holiday as told by American folklore.

YouTube / Paramount Pictures

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

3. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

This Emmy-winning short first aired in 1973 and has become a Thanksgiving staple. If you’ve experienced a kitchen disaster at any point during the day, you might relate to Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock’s efforts to put together a feast despite their total lack of cooking skills. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is airing on Wednesday 27 November on ABC, and the programme is also available to stream on Vudu and Amazon Prime.

YouTube / United Feature Syndicate

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

4. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Let’s set the record straight on You’ve Got Mail’s infamous Thanksgiving-related scene. Tom Hanks’s character, who “rescues” Meg Ryan once she realises she’s stuck cashless at a cash-only register, is supposed to come off as charming – but rewatch the scene in 2019, with the benefit of hindsight, and you’ll realise he’s actually just a condescending jerk. However, the film’s overall holiday feel (plus the fact that the scene in question is filmed at the iconic Upper West Side grocer Zabar’s), make it a top choice for Thanksgiving.

YouTube / Warner Bros

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

5. Rocky (1976)

Yes, Rocky. While the film’s Thanksgiving scene is utterly depressing (Paulie has a fit and throws Adriene’s turkey through the window as Rocky watches on), it’s always fun to re-watch the 1976 classic that spawned the enduring Rocky/Creed film series.

YouTube / United Artists

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

6. Sweet November (2001)

We could tell you that this 2001 film stars Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron and leave it at that. However, we will add that the entire film is set in November and that part of its plot revolves around Thanksgiving, making it a top pic for the holiday. It is a sad flick, exploring the themes of love and terminal illness, so be prepared for an emotional viewing experience.

YouTube / Warner Bros

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

7. Funny People (2009)

Adam Sandler gives a touching Thanksgiving toast as George Simmons, a stand-up comedian who has been diagnosed with a likely fatal disease. “It kind of sucks being old, so just enjoy this. Enjoy time. Time slips away, I promise you,” he tells a crowd of younger people, among other bits of wisdom.

YouTube / Universal Pictures

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

8. Free Birds (2013)

Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler voice this animated film about turkeys… traveling back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get themselves off the traditional menu. You read that right. One caveat: if you watch it with children, maybe take a few minutes to explain to them that they shouldn’t consider this goofy flick an accurate portrayal of the Thanksgiving story.

YouTube / Relativity Media

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

9. Groundhog Day (1993)

On a completely different note, this Bill Murray/Andie MacDowell classic makes for a great family watch. Granted, it’s set in February, meaning it doesn’t involve Thanksgiving or the holiday season per se, but it’s an ode to values such as kindness, self-improvement, love and empathy – all characteristics that lend themselves well to that time of the year.

YouTube / Columbia Pictures

Best Thanksgiving films to watch with your loved ones

10. Toy Story (1995)

The 1995 Pixar classic was released the day before Thanksgiving – so it’s only right to re-watch it on that day, 24 years later. It’s available to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Vudu.

YouTube / Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

"So @Sia paid for my groceries today thank you so much!!” Buckles wrote on Twitter before apologising for exposing her true identity.

“The heart and beautiful soul you have for paying for everyone!! I’m sorry for telling everyone once I realised who you were !! But this kindness must be acknowledged!!!”

Buckles' video has since been viewed more than 1.5 million times.

Several other Twitter users said Sia also paid for their shopping, with one person writing: “I’m still trippin out on last night. I met Sia and she paid for my things. She’s the sweetest [sic].”

Another person revealed that the singer conducted the same good deed in another shop.

"Went to tjmax today and this nice lady decided to pay for everyone’s stuff because she 'won the lottery'... Facebook just told my mother it was @Sia, I didn't recognise her... and I blame the fact that she hid under that wig for so long."

The social media user then uploaded a photograph of her mother posing next to Sia.

The tweets have garnered thousands of responses from fans of the singer praising her kindness.

"So @Sia was at Walmart in Palm Springs paying everyone’s groceries for Thanksgiving!" tweeted one person. "That’s amazing! I legit been listening to her the past 3 days! She’s an amazing human!"

Another added: "I'm thankful @Sia exists".

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