Suspect arrested after threats against TikTok’s Culver City headquarters

Authorities have apprehended a man linked to a series of online threats that prompted the evacuation of TikTok's headquarters in Culver City, California. The Culver City Police Department reported that 33-year-old Joseph Mayuyo, a resident of Hawthorne, was the individual behind the alarming messages targeted at TikTok employees across various social media platforms. The situation escalated when Mayuyo sent a threatening message specifically aimed at the company's headquarters, leading TikTok's security team to evacuate the building as a precaution. Following this, police conducted a search of Mayuyo’s residence, where he allegedly issued further threats, reportedly stating that he would not surrender peacefully. After obtaining search and arrest warrants, officers engaged in negotiations with Mayuyo for approximately 90 minutes until he voluntarily left his home and was taken into custody. Employees at TikTok expressed their fear regarding the threats, with one describing them as "really scary," especially since they appeared to be aimed at the e-commerce department. Mayuyo's account on the platform X has since been suspended due to violations of the site’s policies against hateful content. In addition, a blog post attributed to him criticized TikTokShop USA as a fraudulent operation earlier this year. The police commend TikTok’s security team for their swift and professional response throughout the incident. This arrest coincides with TikTok's ongoing transition in the U.S. as it separates from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, with plans for a new joint venture and leadership structure under a new board of directors.