DONKEY: Father Leaves Kids In McDonald's To Attend Job Interview

Summary

The Breakfast Club Podcast Summary Episode: DONKEY: Father Leaves Kids In McDonald's To Attend Job Interview
Release Date: April 1, 2025

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Introduction to the Topic

In this episode of The Breakfast Club, hosts Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee delve into a controversial incident involving a young father, Chris Lewis, who was arrested for leaving his children unattended at a McDonald's while attending a job interview.

Overview of the Case

The discussion begins with Charlamagne introducing the case of Chris Lewis, a 24-year-old man from Augusta, Georgia. On March 22, Lewis was arrested for leaving his three children—aged 16, 10, and 1—in a McDonald's restaurant while he attended a job interview. Despite his explanation that he lacked transportation and preferred not to have his children walk home alone, the incident sparked significant backlash and legal consequences.

Charlamagne Tha God (02:28):
"Today for Tuesday, April 1, April Fool's Day goes to an Augusta man named Chris Lewis. Okay, Chris is 24 years old and he was arrested for leaving his kids in a McDonald's while he attended a job interview."

Charlamagne's Perspective

Charlamagne expresses strong disapproval of Lewis's actions, emphasizing the potential dangers of leaving young children unattended in a public place. He highlights the responsibilities of a parent to prioritize the safety and well-being of their children over immediate needs such as securing employment.

Charlamagne Tha God (02:51):
"The issue here is the fact that Chris left his 10, 6 and 1 year old unattended at a McDonald's. Anything could have happened in that two hours. Kidnapping. Let's start there, okay? Medical emergency."

He further questions why Lewis didn't seek alternative solutions, such as paying a McDonald's employee for temporary supervision, while acknowledging the financial struggles that may have led to this decision.

Charlamagne Tha God (03:50):
"If something would have happened to the kids, would you still feel that way? There are resources and community programs designed to help parents in these situations. You could have called Family Promise of Augusta."

DJ Envy and Angela Yee's Perspectives

DJ Envy and Angela Yee offer a more nuanced view, recognizing the desperation that may drive a parent to make such a choice. They argue that while the decision was unwise, the punishment—arrest and its long-term consequences—may be disproportionate, potentially hindering Lewis's ability to secure employment in the future.

DJ Envy (07:52):
"He was trying to better his life. The decision he made was stupid, but now he gets this. Now he was arrested for this. Now is this on his record? Now he can't get a good job because that's on his record. It is effed up."

Angela Yee concurs, pointing out that society should show leniency in cases where the intent was to improve one's circumstances, not to neglect or harm children.

Angela Yee (08:30):
"Negligence will definitely be."

Debate and Discussion

The conversation intensifies as Charlamagne and DJ Envy debate the balance between parental responsibility and understanding the socio-economic pressures that may lead to such decisions. Charlamagne maintains that the safety of children must always come first, regardless of the circumstances, while DJ Envy advocates for a more compassionate approach that considers the underlying struggles faced by individuals like Lewis.

Charlamagne Tha God (09:07):
"But would you still say he shouldn't have been arrested? There's no excuse for jeopardizing the safety of your children."

DJ Envy (09:25):
"I'm not saying it's a smart decision. I just don't think he should have went to jail."

Conclusion and Lessons Learned

The hosts conclude by emphasizing the importance of seeking support and utilizing available resources to prevent such situations. They advocate for community programs and assistance that can help parents navigate employment challenges without compromising the safety of their children.

Charlamagne Tha God (10:19):
"Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, is worth jeopardizing the safety of your children."

The episode underscores the delicate interplay between parental duties and the socio-economic factors that influence decision-making, encouraging listeners to weigh the consequences of their actions and seek appropriate support when faced with difficult choices.

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Notable Quotes:

• "The safety of our kids... comes before anything else." — Charlamagne Tha God [06:45]
• "He was trying to better his life. The decision he made was stupid." — DJ Envy [07:52]
• "Nothing... is worth jeopardizing the safety of your children." — Charlamagne Tha God [10:19]

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This episode of The Breakfast Club provides a thought-provoking discussion on parental responsibility, societal pressures, and the legal implications of desperate decisions, offering listeners a balanced perspective on a sensitive issue.

Transcript

[Noble Blood Host]

Cyrus the Great of Persia was a conqueror, and he tried to increase his empire by marrying Timyris, the widow of the king of the Massengeti people. She refused his offer, and so he decided that he would invade her kingdom instead. Turns out that was a big mistake. Listen to the latest episode of Nobleblood, available now. Listen to Nobleblood on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Soul Incarcerated Host]

45 years ago, a Virginia soul band called the Edge of Daybreak recorded their debut album Behind Bars. Record collectors consider it a masterpiece. The band's surviving members are long out of prison, but they say they have some unfinished business.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The everyday rake, Eyes of Love was supposed to have been followed up by another album.

[Soul Incarcerated Host]

Listen to Soul incarcerated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Eric Andre]

Hey, what's up, y'all? This is Eric Andre. I made a podcast called Bombing about absolutely tanking on stage. I tell gnarly stories and I talk to friends about their worst moments of bombing in all sorts of ways. Bombing on stage, bombing in public, bombing in life. Like the time I stole a girl's phone during a sentence, she jumped on stage and threw a big haymaker punch to my nose. Listen to Bombing with Eric Andre on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tim Harford]

The legendary escapologist Harry Houdini was obsessed with the afterlife.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I see a little boy. He is in a happy place.

[Tim Harford]

Join me, Tim Harford, for a Cautionary Tales trilogy on the world's most famous magician and his campaign to ban mediums, a mission that would cost him friends and leave him fearing for his life.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They're going to kill me.

[Tim Harford]

Listen to Cautionary tales on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Don't be out here acting like a donkey. It's time for Donkey of the Day. I'm a big boy. I could take it if he feel I deserve it. Ain't no big deal. I know Charlemagne guy gonna have some funny slick out his mouth. Just gotta say something you may not agree with. Doesn't mean I'm mean.

[DJ Envy]

Who's getting that donkey?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That donkey. That donkey, Donkey, donkey, donkey, Donkey of.

[Eric Andre]

The day right there.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

You can call me the donkey of.

[Soul Incarcerated Host]

The Day, but, like, I mean no harm.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, donkey. Today for Tuesday, April 1, April Fool's Day goes to an Augusta man named Chris Lewis. Okay, Chris is 24 years old and he was arrested for leaving his kids at a McDonald's while he attended a job interview. I repeat, he was arrested for leaving his kids at a McDonald's while he attended a job interview. Hey, we listen. We don't judge. I'm lying. We judging. Let's go to Fox 26 Houston for the report, please.

[News Reporter]

A job interview ends badly for a man in Georgia. Chris Lewis was arrested March 22. Police say he left his kids in a McDonald's by themselves while he went to an interview for a job. He reportedly told police he did not have a car and lived nearby. Lewis said instead of making his three kids, who are 16 and 10 years old, walk home alone, he decided to make them stay in the restaurant. What we know is he was there from 4, the kids were there from 4, 4:30. He returned at 6:18. And then the mother was on the way as well. But we don't know if she was called by police or him after the fact or if she was on the way.

[DJ Envy]

Anyway, he was 24 and he has a 10 year old. So he had that child at 14?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes. Hey, do you know how young 10, 6 and 1 are? Okay, I have a 9 year old, a 6 year old and a 3 year old. I don't like leaving them alone in the family room while I'm upstairs. Nonetheless, dropping them off at a McDonald's restaurant while I attend a job interview. Now, I know some of y'all are out here, you know, out there thinking, well, at least he was going to do something productive like going on a job interview. Well, if that's what you think, you are missing the entire point. Okay? The issue here is the fact that Chris left his 10, 6 and 1 year old unattended at a McDonald's. Okay? A witness reported seeing him with his children around 4:30pm the witness also observed him leave the restaurant, return later before leaving again. And then when he came back at the restaurant around 6:18pm that's when he was detained by officers. That's almost two hours that he left his kids unattended at a McDonald's. Anything could have happened in that two hours. Kidnapping. Let's start there, okay? Medical emergency. What if one of the kids hurt themselves and needed immediate attention? People in McDonald's not paying attention. That's not a damn daycare. They in there making Fisher filets and making sure the Quarter Pounders are poundering. Why would they be paying attention to. To your kids? Now, the news report said the child's mother arrived shortly after and took the children from the restaurant. Why couldn't they have been with the mother to begin with? Don't nobody got no grandparents, no aunts. Where your parents at? Chris, I'm not judging. I'm just asking questions. I'm trying to understand your thought process here, okay? I'm trying to understand why you thought this was okay. You didn't even try to slip one of the McDonald's employees a couple of dollars to say, hey, bro, I got to run to this job interview real quick. Can you just watch my kids for a second? That wouldn't have been the right thing to do either. But it would have been better than just leaving them there unattended. Now, Chris, I don't want you to think I have zero empathy for you. I do. I understand. You know, it's a hustle. Times are hard. Everything costs. Daycare is no joke. You know, babysitter prices are no joke. You probably didn't even have the money to offer anyone, you know, to watch your kids. Okay? Trying to secure employment, to provide your family, provide for your family. That's commendable. Round of applause for that. Okay, but what's our job as men? Our job as men is to protect and provide. I put protect in front of provision for a reason. Because the safety of our kids. The safety of our families comes before anything else, Okay? I can figure anything else out. I've been broke before. I can get to the money in some way. I can deal with that. But your baby's being hurt because of your negligence. I can't live with that. Okay? There is no job you could possibly acquire on this planet that is worth more than the safety and well being of your kids. Let's just say, Chris, you got the job. You all excited? You rushing back to McDonald's? Happy as hell. Okay? You get there, kids going, somebody done snatched them up. Tell me if that job is worth it then. Oh, what if you would have got back and you pull up and it's ambulances everywhere, okay? Because the one year old then suffocated in the pit of plastic balls. You tell me if that job interview you went on was worth that. Okay? There are resources and community programs designed to help parents in these situations. I did some research, and by research, all I mean is Google. Okay? You could have called Family Promise of Augusta. They got a car, cost free child care center. Now, from what I read, they help homeless families, but I'm sure they could have helped you, too. I'm just saying there had to be other options. Okay? McDonald's menu has 145 items that's 145 different things to choose from. Why am I saying that? I'm saying that because if McDonald's has 145 items, if they have that many options, then us as humans have to give ourselves more options, too. I'm sure you could have found at least one more option other than dropping your kids off at McDonalds. That can't be the plan. A and the only plan, period. Ok, let's hope this serves as a lesson to all parents before you make poor choices like this. Seek out support systems and plan accordingly when you're faced with these kind of challenges. Because nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, is worth jeopardizing the safety of your children. Please give Chris Lewis the biggest he haul. Am I tripping?

[Angela Yee]

Nah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay. No.

[Angela Yee]

I'll tell you when you are. But now you. You're not.

[DJ Envy]

He. He deserves donkey, but he doesn't deserve to be arrested. Come on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What are you talking about?

[DJ Envy]

I'm gonna tell you why, right? Because you. Because you said a lot of stuff that we don't necessarily know about. Maybe he had a babysitter in play and last minute the babysitter canceled. And he's trying to do right. He's trying to get a job. And maybe he thought, you know what? Not to say that this was a smart decision, but let me try. It's not like he was going to the club. It's not like he was at the mall shopping. It's not like he was at a chick house or you smoking some weed or selling some dope. He was trying to better his life. Now, the decision he made was stupid, but now he gets this. Now he's arrested for this. Now is this on his record? Now he can't get a good job because that's on his record. It is effed up.

[Angela Yee]

Negligence will definitely be.

[DJ Envy]

It is effed up and it is foul. It's not a way of thinking he broke the law. But as a community, you know what I mean? We should have certain graces when it comes to certain things. Like I said, if he was at a club. Yes. Lock him up. If he was at the mall shopping. If he was smoking weed, selling crack, if he was at a chick house.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Let me ask you a question.

[DJ Envy]

But he was trying to better his life.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

If something. If something would have. Go ahead.

[Angela Yee]

No, I'm just saying why not take them to the actual interview?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Then he said he didn't want them to walk.

[Angela Yee]

I'm sorry.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He didn't have a car.

[DJ Envy]

He would have to walk with the kids.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So let me ask you a question. If something would have happened to the kids, would you still feel that way if, if the kids would have gotten kidnapped, if one of the kids would have suffocated in the, in the playpen, would you still feel that it would.

[DJ Envy]

Have been a sad situation.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But would you still say he shouldn't have been arrested?

[DJ Envy]

I don't know. I don't think he would have been arrested because he's not doing it on purpose. He's really trying to better his life and in the circumstances with life, hit him. Hey, man, I mean like he like think about it like this. Let's say he did have a babysitter. Let's say he did and the babysitter canceled last minute and he's trying to get a job.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's not like he's not going to mean you leave your 10 year old. Right.

[DJ Envy]

I'm not saying.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And your one year old unattended someone.

[DJ Envy]

I'm not saying it's smart. I'm not saying it's the right decision or a smart decision. But that man is trying to better his life. And we've all been to a place where it's just.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But what that got to do with the safety of your children?

[DJ Envy]

You're right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't care how much you trying to put him in jail. Listen, he broke the law. I don't know nothing about that. But my point is you can't say this man is trying to better his life. You can't put, you know, you being unemployed over the safety of your children. The safety of your children.

[DJ Envy]

I'm not saying it's a smart decision. I just don't think he should have went to jail.

[Angela Yee]

Cause they gonna walk with me. I get he ain't want them to walk. All right, well, I'm gonna carry you until I get tired. Then your little brother gonna hold you. Then I'm gonna pick you back up. Something like I, they're go be with me at this job interview because that may entice the job, the people to give him the job even more.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right. This guy's bringing his kids.

[DJ Envy]

I don't want him.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, listen, I just don't think you should jeopardize the safety of your children.

[DJ Envy]

I agree.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

In the pursuit of employment.

[DJ Envy]

I agree a thousand percent.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I can't say I can't. I can't say. I can't say he shouldn't be arrested.

[DJ Envy]

Let's open up the phone lines. Let's discuss 800-585-1051. This young man, he's 24 years old. He had a job interview. He left his three children in McDonald's while he did the job interview. The ages of his children are 16 and 10. 10. He was arrested for it. Do you think he should have been arrested Donkey today? Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did he take any.

[Angela Yee]

Did he tell anybody in McDonald's? Look, y'all. Did he put them on point? Like, do he know them? Like, if he. You know what I'm saying is that McDonald's that he go to all the time.

[DJ Envy]

When's the last time you've been to McDonald's with a ball pit?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't know.

[Tim Harford]

Cause all.

[Angela Yee]

But they all look like urgent cares now. Like, it's like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you know why they got rid of the ball pits? Cuz they were dangerous. Yeah. Cuz they were safety hazards to the kids. And that's where you leave your children.

[DJ Envy]

You played in it when you was a kid. I played in when I was a kid.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I played in no goddamn ball pits when I was a kid.

[DJ Envy]

And they ain't even had a ball pit.

[Angela Yee]

South Park's corner.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm sure they did, but I don't remember playing in them. But they have child neglect laws for a reason. This was child negligence, y'all.

[DJ Envy]

800-585-1051. Let's discuss. It's the Breakfast Club. Come on, let's go to Breakfast Club court.

[News Reporter]

The Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Laminsoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull Dot com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[Noble Blood Host]

Cyrus the Great of Persia was a conqueror, and he tried to increase his empire by marrying Timyris, the widow of the king of the Massengeti people. She refused his offer, and so he decided that he would invade her kingdom instead. Turns out that was a big mistake. Listen to the latest episode of Nobleblood, available now. Listen to Nobleblood on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Soul Incarcerated Host]

45 years ago, a Virginia soul band called the Edge of Daybreak recorded their debut album Behind Bars. Record collectors consider it a masterpiece. The band's surviving members are long out of prison, but they say they have some unfinished business.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The Edge of Daybreak, Eyes of Love was supposed to have been followed up by another album.

[Soul Incarcerated Host]

Listen to Soul incarcerated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Eric Andre]

Hey, what's up, y'all? This is Eric Andre. I made a podcast called Bombing about absolutely tanking on stage. I tell gnarly stories and I talk to friends about their worst moments of bombing in all sorts of ways. Bombing on stage, bombing in public, bombing in life. Like the time I stole a girl's phone during a sentence, she jumped on stage and threw a big haymaker punch to my nose. Listen to Bombing with Eric Andre on Will Ferrell Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tim Harford]

The legendary escapologist Harry Houdini was obsessed with the afterlife.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I see a little boy. He is in a happy place.

[Tim Harford]

Join me, Tim Harford, for a Cautionary Tales trilogy on the world's most famous magician and his campaign to ban mediums, a mission that would cost him friends and leave him fearing for his life.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They're going to kill me.

[Tim Harford]

Listen to Cautionary tales on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.