French Game Store Manager Goes Viral After Defending His Shop and Getting Compared to Goku
A game store manager in France has gone viral on social media after standing up to a group of rioters attempting to break into his store during protests in the country. Even after being knocked down by a kick, the employee got back up and continued guarding the entrance.
The scene caught the attention of anime fans, especially because of one detail involving Goku from Dragon Ball, which led people online to call the man a real-life Super Saiyan!
Game Store Manager Stands Up to Rioters in France
The incident happened in Nice, France, during a wave of protests that began on October 17. While the demonstrations had their own social demands, episodes of violence and vandalism were also reported, with businesses being damaged and looted.
Amid the chaos, Pierre, the manager of a Micromania store, decided to remain at the entrance to prevent the rioters from getting inside.
Videos circulating on social media show him attempting to push some people away. However, as he was walking back toward the store entrance, he was kicked and knocked to the ground.
What makes the moment particularly striking is that Pierre got back up and continued trying to protect the store even after being attacked. Despite his efforts, the shop was damaged, with broken shelves and games and other merchandise scattered across the floor.
Why Was the Manager Compared to Goku From Dragon Ball?
The moment that really caught anime fans’ attention came when Pierre was standing in front of a poster featuring Goku, the protagonist of Dragon Ball.
The manager’s stance ended up looking remarkably similar to the character’s pose behind him. The resemblance was enough for the image to spread across social media, with people jokingly calling him a real-life Super Saiyan.
For fans of Akira Toriyama’s work, the comparison is especially fitting. Goku is famous for refusing to give up when facing stronger opponents and continuing to fight even when things seem hopeless.
Of course, protecting a store in real life is nothing like fighting enemies in a battle anime, but the visual coincidence made the story even more memorable for the otaku community.
Online Users Condemn the Attack and Praise Pierre
The footage sparked outrage across social media. Many users expressed frustration that someone had to put his own safety at risk just to try to protect his workplace.
Among the reactions, some people argued that those responsible for the attacks were taking advantage of the chaos to intimidate others and destroy property. Others praised the manager’s courage, while also questioning whether putting himself in that much danger was worth it.
Pierre himself later admitted that he probably should not have confronted the rioters.
In an interview with French outlet ICI, he said he was still trying to process what had happened and would probably be able to make more sense of it once things had calmed down. He also described his actions as reckless, explaining that he simply reacted in the heat of the moment.
At the same time, he made a point of saying that those responsible for the violence do not represent the majority of protesters and thanked people for their support.
Fundraiser Launched to Help Micromania Manager
The story did not end with the video going viral. Following the incident, a fundraiser was created to help Pierre, who was injured during the episode.
The initiative highlighted that behind every store are passionate people who work every day to serve customers and share their love of video games.
The fundraiser also gave the community an opportunity to show its support for the manager after what happened.
The fundraiser had already reached nearly €19,000, with 914 donors.