Authorities announced that they have taken into custody an individual believed to be involved in a series of online threats that prompted the emergency evacuation of TikTok’s corporate headquarters in Culver City, located near Los Angeles, this past Friday. According to law enforcement officials, this dramatic action was necessitated after multiple alarming messages surfaced online, raising serious safety concerns for the popular social media company and its employees.
In a detailed press release, the Culver City Police Department explained that TikTok personnel had alerted authorities upon receiving numerous threatening messages that were disseminated across several social media platforms. The alleged perpetrator was identified as thirty-three-year-old Joseph Mayuyo, a resident of Hawthorne, California. Investigators reported that the suspect had published multiple posts that appeared to target the company, escalating tensions significantly. When Mayuyo later issued a particular threat directed specifically at TikTok’s Culver City premises, the platform’s security division, acting swiftly and with considerable prudence, initiated a precautionary evacuation of the building. Police noted that this decision was made “out of an abundance of caution,” reflecting a careful balance between operational continuity and the safety of all personnel.
Officers subsequently focused their investigation on Mayuyo’s residence in Hawthorne. As stated in the department’s update, while authorities were still conducting inquiries, the suspect allegedly continued to issue intimidating remarks online, one of which defiantly stated that he would resist capture at any cost. Recognizing the gravity and volatility of the situation, detectives urgently obtained judicial authorization in the form of search and arrest warrants. Following this legal preparation, negotiators engaged Mayuyo in a tense but measured dialogue that spanned approximately ninety minutes. The situation concluded without violence when the suspect decided to surrender voluntarily, allowing police to take him safely into custody.
According to a report by *Business Insider*, reactions from within TikTok illustrated the emotional impact of the incident. One employee described the experience as “really scary,” emphasizing the sense of vulnerability and unease that threats of this kind can produce among staff members. Another worker expressed heightened concern upon realizing that the messages seemed to single out the company’s e-commerce division, thereby implying a more pointed and potentially malicious intent behind the harassment.
In the aftermath of his arrest, social media platforms began taking action against the suspect’s online presence. Reports indicate that Mayuyo’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, was suspended for violating policies related to hateful or harmful content. Additionally, an account on Medium attributed to him contained a post, published in July, that harshly criticized TikTokShop USA, labeling it a “scam.” While the motivations behind his threatening communications remain under investigation, such activity underscores the fine line between online criticism and criminal intimidation.
A spokesperson for *TechCrunch* confirmed that inquiries have been directed to TikTok seeking an official comment regarding the incident. Within its public statement, the Culver City Police Department expressed recognition for TikTok’s internal security team, commending their “quick action, collaboration, and professionalism throughout this case.” The statement highlighted that the company’s immediate and well-coordinated response played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of all employees and facilitating an efficient law enforcement operation.
This arrest occurs during a particularly significant transitional period for TikTok’s U.S. operations, which are currently being restructured as part of a spinoff from the platform’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The ongoing separation will establish a new joint venture governed by a newly formed board of directors, signaling a major shift in corporate governance and oversight. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who has been publicly commenting on and participating in discussions surrounding this deal for many months, recently formalized his stance by signing an executive order authorizing the transaction. The convergence of these developments — the security incident and the corporate transformation — highlights the complex interplay between technological enterprise, public safety, and international business strategy.
The TechCrunch event in San Francisco, scheduled for October 27–29, 2025, will likely provide further opportunities for industry leaders to discuss these ongoing issues at the intersection of digital security, corporate responsibility, and global policy.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/05/suspect-arrested-after-threats-against-tiktoks-culver-city-headquarters/
