Neighbour asks woman to remove 'morbid' Halloween display for heartbreaking reason
By Merryn Porter |
H?alloween is a big deal for many families, especially in North America and the UK, where it has been celebrated for generations.
So it is not surprising some people start decorating their homes and gardens early.
That was the case for a self-described Halloween fanatic, who had ?already decorated the outside of her US home when she got a visit from a neighbour's son, asking her to remove the morbid scene in her garden.
She later shared the exchange, which was captured on a ring camera mounted above the front door, on her TikTok account @thatsnorthsense. But it is what she did next that has amazed viewersand turned her into an internet sensation.
Watch the video above.
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Salena Webb is a digital creator from South Carolina who usually shares posts about her blended family of seven across several social media platforms, including TikTok, under the name @thatsnorthsense, where she gives updates about daily life and gardening.
But it was the video she shared in the past week that really got the internet's attention, clocking up 1.2 million views so far.
It starts with a man, whose face has been blurred out, at the front door of her home. She later identifies him as the son of her neighbours, who live directly across the street.
"Hey, um, I know you are celebrating Halloween and all that stuff," he says.
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"He just got diagnosed with lung cancer the other day and, you know, the thing is it's just kind of scary."
He goes on to ask if she can at least move the casket that makes up part of the display, explaining he is trying to 'redirect' his father's thoughts so he is 'not thinking about' death.
Across the screen she wrote, "Today my neighbour came and asked me to take down my Halloween decorations. What would you do?"
The video then shows the casket being removed as Webb writes across the screen, "We took it down because kindness is free."
In the accompanying comments Webb wrote, "My family knows I loveeee Halloween and my decorations took me awhile to make and put up.
"I had just purchased the skeleton carrying the casket to go along with my graveyard to really set my Halloween decor off this year. I was a little sad at first but I thought about the bigger picture.
"Me removing my casket isn't hurting me at all but it may ease and bring my neighbour a little bit of peace as he adjusts to this news.
"Kindness is free and compassion goes a long way. Now what to replace it with."
In a follow up video, Webb showed what the garden had looked like before the casket was removed and said she was also planning to remove the graveyard scene.
She said the neighbour lived 'literally right across the street' and she got that it would be upsetting.
Commenters were quick to praise Webb for her actions. "That was completely amazing of you," wrote one.
Others praised both parties for their handling of the situation.
"He was so gentle about it and that was incredibly compassionate of you," wrote one.
"You both handled this tough situation in such a respectful manner," another wrote. ?
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