Viral French Store Manager Warns Against Scam Fundraisers After Riot Defense

A Micromania video game store manager in Nice, France, is warning the public against unauthorized donation pages after video of him confronting looters during nationwide protests spread across social media. French media identified the worker as Pierre Collin, who stood guard at the shop entrance on Avenue Jean-Médecin during demonstrations on October 17, 2026.

Video captured Collin in the doorway beneath a promotional display of Goku from the "Dragon Ball" franchise, prompting onlookers to dub him "Le Goku de Nice." Despite Collin holding his position after being struck with projectiles and kicked to the ground from behind, attackers breached, damaged, and looted the store. Collin sustained minor injuries, including scratches and a sprain after falling onto broken glass.

Collin Downplays Hero Label Following the Breach

Speaking to broadcaster ICI, Collin rejected praise describing his actions as heroic, calling his intervention an impulsive mistake. "At one point, I just stood in front to keep people from getting inside, that is all," he said. "I can't quite process what happened. That might come a bit later, once the dust has settled. I don't think I should have done it, honestly. It was foolish. But in the moment, that's what I did."

Collin also defended the broader cost-of-living demonstrations, stating that looters were an isolated element. "We shouldn't forget that this kind of behavior is the exception, not the rule," he told ICI. "Throughout the rest of the march, things went quite well. There are a few 'bad apples,' but they don't represent the majority."

Crowdfunding Confusion and Unrest Across Nice

Following the attention, gaming community group Double Pixels launched a Leetchi solidarity campaign to assist the shop manager, scheduled to close on October 20, 2026. Reported funding totals fluctuated across platforms between €6,000 and more than €20,000. However, unverified fundraising pages also appeared, prompting Collin to issue an alert through Instagram: "My team and I are very touched by the support, thank you so much. I now see online fundraisers. I don't know anything about them. Nobody has contacted me. They are not mine. Take care of yourselves. Avoid this kind of scam."

The disturbances on Avenue Jean-Médecin hit neighboring storefronts as well, with Decathlon, Foot Locker, and JD Sports sustaining damage. Local authorities reported 15 businesses damaged and 85 individuals detained in police custody in Nice, including 40 minors. Across France, an estimated 550,000 people took part in the October 17 demonstrations, resulting in more than 1,200 arrests nationwide according to the BBC.