Those four words were all it took for a son to help fill his dad’s empty doughnut shop and at the same time make a dream come true.
Social media is known to both help and hinder our daily lives. But for a little doughnut cafe in Missouri City, Texas, Twitter helped bring a business to life!
Billy's Donuts, owned by Satharith By, located 20 miles outside Houston found itself dealing with a major shortage of customers.
So the owner’s son took matters into his own hands.
The Story of the “Sad Dad”
"My dad is sad cause no one is coming to his new donut shop," the owner's son, Billy By, tweeted out to the world. The post featured crying emojis and photos of his dad looking lonely behind his counter sporting a grim expression.
“Sad dad,” as he was dubbed, was waiting and hoping for customers to stop by for the delicately glazed doughnuts, cereal-topped delicacies, kolaches, and cinnamon rolls. The post featured shots of the store and parking lot both empty with a large grand opening sign slumped in the background.
“I decided to tweet to let my friends know about the shop,” By said.
He only had 20 Twitter followers at the time, but his post quickly went viral on social media, with Influencer Casey Neistat and actor James Woods helping to spread the word. By’s post garnered 280,000 retweets and over 600,000 likes in just two days!
The day he posted the tweet, By called his father to let him know it was getting a lot of attention on the Internet. “Okay, that’s nice,” replied Satharith, who didn’t know what Twitter was.
The Touching Tale Moved Mountains
As the tweet gained more traction, Billy called his dad again to warn him that the store could potentially be busy the next morning. Satharith didn’t think much of it until the following morning. “He called me and said, ‘Oh my god, come to the shop. It’s too busy! I need help.'”
Billy’s parents were the only ones working in the store that morning as a line quickly grew out the front door. Satharith called in other in other family members to come by and help out. Their production quadrupled but the shop still ran out and had to close early.
Thousands of social media users were deeply moved by Billy's caring post for his dad and have since made a destination spot out of the Doughnut shop.
"You are all amazing. I can't thank everyone enough for coming out and supporting local businesses. This means so much to my family," he wrote.
The surge in business at Billy’s Doughnuts didn’t slow down. The unusually long lines continued for a month and sold the shop out regularly. Billy’s had visitors from Canada and other countries come by to try the “Internet famous” doughnuts.
The Power of Hope and Taking Initiative
“Thank everyone so much! We sold out today! We appreciate all the love and support. My dad isn’t sad anymore!” By shared on the company’s Facebook page.
The Billy’s Doughnuts Instagram account now has over 72,000 followers. Sad dad's story even reached the top ranks at Twitter, with the company’s official account sharing its support with a thoughtful message:
“You donut want to miss out on Billy’s and neither do we! We’ll be there tomorrow morning #LoveTwitter.”
Thanks to the interwebs, sad dad is sad no more!
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Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.