The ongoing SNAP benefits suspension has left millions of Americans scrambling to put food on the table, and somehow, even Uber seems to have joined the list. In a bizarre social media twist, the company’s verified account appeared to ask OnlyFans star Sophie Rain for grocery money after she launched a viral giveaway to help struggling families during the government’s food assistance freeze. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides monthly food aid to more than 42 million Americans, is currently not issuing benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. Against that grim backdrop, Sophie Rain, a viral creator and philanthropist with over 4 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), stepped in with a self-funded grocery aid initiative. But what started as a heartfelt act of generosity turned into one of the internet’s most unexpected moments when a verified Uber account replied to her offer, seemingly asking for grocery help itself.

It all started on Friday when Sophie posted a video offering to send money to fans in need of groceries.

“I used to live off food stamps, so I get it,” she said in the clip, pledging to cover grocery costs for those struggling during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and SNAP payment halt. “This week, I’m gonna be paying for people’s groceries,” she wrote alongside the post.

But then things took a bizarre turn. The official Uber account replied directly to Rain’s tweet, writing “Xoxosamyo on PayPal.” The post was quickly deleted, but not before screenshots went viral.

Sophie wasted no time sharing her reaction to the strange exchange, posting a screenshot of the deleted reply and joking, “Uber, you better start paying your social media interns more because this is CRAZY.”

Speaking exclusively to The Blast, Rain doubled down on her reaction with a mix of humor and exasperation. “Didn’t think I’d be Instacarting groceries to Uber this week, but here we are,” she told The Blast. “I get hundreds of payment requests a day, but seeing a verified Uber account with crying emojis and a PayPal handle threw me. At first I thought someone hacked their account. Then I realized, no, this is probably just an underpaid intern trying to get fed like the rest of us. So I sent the money. What else am I gonna do, let Uber go hungry?”

She also didn’t hold back on her critique of the company, telling The Blast, “If your social media intern is out here publicly asking OnlyFans girls for help with groceries, maybe your company should take a break from the self-driving cars and pay them a livable wage. Just a thought.”

Sophie has continued her grocery assistance campaign, sending funds directly to individuals who comment their needs via PayPal and Cash App. Public receipts show multiple transactions ranging from $200 to $275, labeled with messages like “Grocery help – Team Sophie.”

In one instance, she sent $200 to a homeless user in Colorado. In another case, $275 was given to someone who said they doubted they would be selected.  “I’m hoping this inspires other creators to step up because we are in a position to make a change,” she said.

The viral Uber mix-up unfolded against an increasingly tense political backdrop. Over the weekend, the Trump administration instructed states to “immediately undo” any actions taken to continue providing full SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to low-income families, threatening financial penalties for states that refused to comply.

The Agriculture Department’s late-Saturday memo intensified the uncertainty already surrounding the food stamp program amid the ongoing government shutdown. SNAP, which helps roughly one in eight Americans afford groceries, has now left tens of millions struggling to feed their families.

The sudden guidance blindsided state leaders across the country, many of whom were “vexed and frustrated” by the administration’s stance. By Sunday, some officials had reportedly begun exploring legal options to block further disruptions to SNAP funding, but the Trump administration doubled down, issuing a strongly worded court filing insisting that states would be “responsible for the consequences” if they defied the directive.

The move sparked outrage on social media, with critics accusing the administration of playing politics with people’s basic survival needs, all while viral moments like Uber’s grocery mishap with OnlyFans creator Sophie Rain highlighted just how desperate and surreal the food insecurity crisis has become.