“Shopping While Black” Vine Star Speaks Out: If It Keeps Happening, I’m Going to be Forced to Record It

The now viral vids have been reported everywhere and the 19-year-old is an overnight success. The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Polo to talk his “being followed” video trend he’s started, whether he’ll keep documenting it, and negative reactions to the videos.

Check out the interview below.

THR: What does getting 30 million views mean for you? Could this possibly be the start of an online video career?

Polo: At first, I was making vines for fun. My first one was me recording that lady following me around the store, and then I was doing quirky things I had on my mind. Those were getting thousands of likes. At first I didn’t take it very seriously, but  I feel like it could lead to something bigger if I keep it up.

THR: Will we see another one of the shopping vines in the future?

Polo: If it keeps happening, I’m going to be forced to record it. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again because it’s very annoying and it’s a touchy subject with many people. Nobody likes being followed around and it’s very uncomfortable. Their reasoning behind it is, “you’re a young minority and you’re probably going to steal, so lets keep an eye on you.” I live in a small town, and I guess that’s what happens in town. It’s kind of sad, but if it does happen, I’m going to have to keep doing it until it stops. I hope it comes to the point where when I come into a convenience store, it’s like, “Oh crap, we’re not going to follow you. You’re that guy on Vine.”

THR: Have you gotten any negative feedback on this?

Some people are commenting on negative things. “Oh, you’re following them around with a camera. I would follow you, too, if you had a camera in my store.” Well, Vines are six seconds. They don’t know what was going on for the five minutes before I started recording. I go into the store, I’m trying to shop and if they start following me, that’s when I start recording. I don’t go in there looking for trouble.

What are your thoughts? Is he going too far or should he continue to document what he feels is unfair treatment shopping while black?